social independent?

should've talked to frats about financial aid...

Bump

Alright so I'll give you real advice because duke students should help other duke students maintain the work hard play hard mentality. Basically you have to wait for open parties which happen maybe a couple times a month and ask a close friend in the frat to put you on the list or give you a wristband. When there aren't open parties, people go to devine's or shooters all the time after mixers so just pregame with ur buddies then go there.

Sophomore who was independent for the last year here. Few tips on still having fun when you're independent and all your friends went Greek:
1. Stay close to your girl friends. Sororities have crush parties (super open even if you don't get a direct invite) and date functions and formals
2. Entertain the option of rushing as a sophomore. Even if it isn't realistic, your friends in frats will get less heat from other brothers for inviting you if they're able to say you're interested in rushing
3. The "coolest" frats and sororities have mixers all the time and still end up at devines or shoots by 11 or midnight. It's almost like the environment where you can see people from all different social groups is more fun??????

Hey bro

I had the same exact situation exact I didn't join frats because I couldn't afford mores I just didn't go for it as I should've.

Much of my second semester I foundth ings very exclusive. Any groups were already formed and frats were like castles guarded by knights.

Frat life now that rush is over is more than impossible to join.

Fact is you cant always get your top pick. So it may be wise to join a frat even if you dint enjoy it as much. It will give you company and you'll not have alone nights in what I supposed to be a cool college experience.

if you don't rush you may not enjoy the independents either.

Here's my story, First semester had great friends but we all broke up and I didn't block with them which basically left me alone next year.

However the way I dealt with it is trying to meet people in activities my second year. I got a few friends from it who became close and tons of chicks from class, not as friends LOL you know, but independent life was not going to be socially awesome unless I had a independent friends that stuck together or a frat.

So I tried to join a frat my second year and I got to know the brothers and we started hanging out. We became real cool, and Wallah every Saturday I went to there place and had lots of cool kids to be with and my friends outside that.

It may not have been the best frat but I don't care - I had friends that were loyal and supportive. Thus I chose to try to join them and it was a great move.

I ended up joining another more higher ranked frat but bottom line this really helped me.

Otherwise I had basically kids just from activities and that for me no lie was like 1-3 close friends and a heap of not as close friends.

Not meaning to be weird you def want to have people to hang with that you are close to and not just part of some activity...because theres a large difference between those and just people you talk to at your club meeting but not outside.

I made it work but the last semester had been hell for me. No friends due to breaking up beyond some kids in the dorm. I was very alone. I'd hate that you would go through that.

Just meet people and invite them to hang out. You can build up friends. The shyer you are about this it will be harder to make friends.

Frat groups are very isolated so unless you are trying to join them second year it will be hard to hang out with those kids, and don't let them fool you as cool as they seem they can be very insincere and unloyql to you.

So I hope that helps. Like I said to me joining a frat was very helpful in this and aways gave me a place to hang every Saturday and Friday. I'd hang with my activity based friends on Friday and the frat on Saturday. It was neat.

This is probably the best semester for you to make things work. Start to meet people now if you can. Plan who your group next year will be,

Maybe try to rush a frat even if its not your favorite next year and have people to be with.

regarding your parties question, firstly your lucky just to have enough people to hang out with at duke if ur not part of a frat.

Activities and clubs throw parties. However your simply not going to meet new people at parties besides being in a frat.

You have to throw ur own parties and invite people u meet in class and otherwise. Frat patties and meeting people is really only for frat kids only. You simply cant go to those unless ur In one or get invited by some chick.

Basically, the independent world is your oyster and you have to be self started to get things going there...and generally talk and be inviting to lots of people. You can always go to shooters but I doubt you'll meet anyone there besides some chicks if ur lucky.

Basically don't expect an elusive socialite party life of a frat star expect a life where you kind of have your own groups and friends and do things together including party.