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Sounds horrible.
I've recently restarted university back here, and the standard way of socialization for first-year students is that your subject association (ie. the student organization of whatever you're majoring in) organizes a month of events (usually involving heavy drinking, of course) where you participate in friendly competitions with other students and so on. Men and women participate as equals and, presumably, after you've done it all you've formed a network with the other students and gained friends. If that doesn't happen there's still a plenty of student associations (ie. gaming club, heavy metal club, various sports teams, political associations and so on) you can join. This year I wasn't able to participate (my mother got sick and died so I had to spend a lot of time in my original hometown for obvious reasons) but, then again, I'm 20 years older than the other students, have a family and already have a plenty of friends and networks otherwise, so there's less need for it for me.
What's the process like for American students who don't join the frats/sororities, either because they can't get in or because they just don't want to?
Well, you’re not an 18 year old girl. Social conformity and displaying oneself is like their favorite thing.
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Pretty much like that. Greek life is a minority, even at UA which is sort of the iconic frat school these days it's 36% of students.
Seems like it has to be a minority in order for Greek life to be considered broadly selective. You're not part of some elite group if everyone is in it.
Not necessarily. The individual fraternities have to be selective.
You could have 80% of people in a Greek Letter jacket, the important question is which Greek Letters get you into the best parties. Hierarchy within Greek life is as or more important than Greek/GDI hierarchy.
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