<p>I have heard from several students who currently attend Northwestern that the social scene is almost entirely frat dominated. Has anyone else found this to be the case? If so, is that for the better or worse?</p>
<p>Well, NU is ~36% (give or take a few percentage points) greek, so technically there are far more people who aren't in the greek system than those who are. You'll definitely feel more of its prescence if you're living on North campus (especially if you're in Bobb). Personally, my social life is dominated by the frat scene because I am in a sorority and most of my guy friends are in frats, so that's just how it worked out for me. Actually, I'd say that bars dominate the social scene more (at least a lot more compared to other schools), whether they be bars in Evanston or downtown.</p>
<p>There's definitely a healthy social scene outside of the fraternities - "party dorms" such as Bobb-Mc and Elder, apt. parties, bars in Evanston and Chicago (15 cent pitchers).</p>
<p>But the fraternities do make up a big part of the social scene (I always felt bad for the guy who had to clean up after our parties).</p>
<p>I was in a frat until close to the end of my sophomore year, and my social live actually <em>improved</em> when I left. I had an amazing time at NU once the social pressure imposed by being part of the Greek system disintegrated. Non-Greeks are welcome to attend fraternity parties, and I still remained friends with a number of the brothers.</p>
<p>Still, the bulk of my social life actually existed ouside the Greek system. I was a big student government dork at NU, so that provided me with a great social network, along with friends I made when I studied abroad and elsewhere. The Evanston bar/social scene is fairly robust for non-Greeks, and Chicago is always an L ride away. Also, apartment parties abound, and if you're not a partier, you can aways find a number of student theater productions, sporting and cultural events, and other on-campus diversions not associated with the Greek system.</p>