<p>even though only 20% of students belong to a fraternity/sorority, i hear a lot of the fun takes place on the row, and you likely can't go to parties there if you're not part of the greek system. what are some key on-campus things to do for fun if you don't go greek? the games will be fun of course, but that's only for part of the year. i know there will be stuff going on in the dorms, but aren't there RAs who have to enforce strict rules?</p>
<p>It's true that Row parties can be difficult to get into if you are not a Greek member, and especially if you are male. However, with thousands of students living in the University Park area, other stuff is always going on.</p>
<p>In terms of dorms, there will still be a fair amount of partying there but on a smaller scale. RA's seem to vary in their strictness and some may look the other way entirely. I think some of the larger on-campus parties tend to be in apartments, just because more people can be accommodated. </p>
<p>Finding alcohol-free events, especially in the evening, can be more challenging. USC-sponsored campus-wide events like Troy Week are few and far between. Student clubs are usually good bets and hanging out with friends is always an option if the scene is just too much.</p>
<p>And don't forget where you'll be living... if you/friend has a car, then you're set because there's a million things to do around the city.</p>
<p>All of the above is good advice. Other possibilities are signing up for sports leagues like Ultimate Frisbee; attending theater and other events on campus; there are many religious groups and clubs, some of which sponsor activities such as game nights; if you are an incoming freshman you can sign up for a Learning Community this summer and receive free tickets and transportation to sports and theater events in L.A. (my daughter saw the Dodgers and the Kings, attended LION KING, CURTAINS, and in the spring through Visions and Voices, WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF -- all for free!). Daughter and her friends did many fun things in L.A. including movies and shopping at the Grove, studying on the beach, attending WICKED, etc. You don't have to have a car (daughter doesn't have hers on campus) -- it's very likely some of your friends will. My daughter's dorm also had a lot of social activities, both things set up by the R.A.'s and informal things with friends on the floor (playing Nintendo, birthday parties, etc.). JEOPARDY! was filmed on campus this year, etc. There is always something interesting going on. Besides football in the fall, there is basketball at the Galen Center in the spring.</p>
<p>There's a ton of amazing concert venues around too, the Wiltern's an old favorite.</p>
<p>There are ton's of non-greek parties every weekend. And if you want to go to a greek party, make some friends in frats. This only works so well, because if you only know one or two of the guy in the frat, it gets boring fast, as you are the outsider. But of course, if you join a frat, you are obligated to go to their and only their parties.</p>
<p>And last year North threw a party that filled the whole hall when the RA was away. But stay away from stuff like that DPS always busts them.</p>
<p>ditto the above. anything more than a small gathering in the dorms can be risky. There are often parties on 30th street, Menlo, Tuscany, etc... </p>
<p>And just a brief clarification: if you join a fraternity, you are definitely still allowed to go to parties at fraternities other than your own. The greek system is pretty close, and friends are always willing to let friends in.</p>
<p>I heard something about Ellendale being good for non-frat parties.</p>
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I heard something about Ellendale being good for non-frat parties.
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and to add to that, see stressed4college's post :D</p>
<p>yeah as mentioned, 30th, Ellendale/Menlo (they're one street away from each other...good when one party starts to slow down), Tuscany, 23rd (outside of DPS range haha...either a good or bad thing), 37th (on the shady side of Vermont...) all have frequent parties between Friday/Saturday. City Park Apartments, Century/Cardinal Gardens, Webb Tower, Troy Hall, 29th street, Portland St. occasionally have parties (the ones in USC housing tend to have lax RA's as they are most for non-freshman). </p>
<p>and if partying's not your thing...there's more than enough music venues within reach to keep you occupied, great shopping in Hollywood and Melrose, the beach (via friends with cars, and sometimes acceptably accessible via bus). yeah...my advice is to not be afraid to take the bus...it'll get you anywhere and everywhere at almost any time of day (or night)...but on the same token, always go with at least one friend, know what buses you're going to take, and use common sense.</p>
<p>EDIT: lol, this post makes me look like a party animal...it's just that 9 months in one place is a lot of time to become familiar with it...and it also means a lot of weekends ;)...</p>