Sophomore Pledge experience

Hi I am a freshman who just transferred for my second semester. I was really hoping to get into a fraternity but I was not able to get into the two that I rushed. I am still ambitious for pledging in fall however as I have thought about it more and more some questions have arisen. Does pledging as a sophomore give me the same opportunities as pledging as a frshman? Is it as involved in as many events as the freshman PC with other sororities or events at the house? I believe most guys live in the house sophomore year but I may have misheard that, if so can you live in the house as a junior? I am also looking to hopefully be in a leadership position at the fraternity and is that still achievable. Do you feel that a fall pledge has a chance to be connected with your house in a significant way? Do you feel that joining as sophomore can have a positive impact on you although you experienced this at a later time then some of the other brothers. But really I am most curious if I were to rush other fraternities (pikapp, theta chi, tke, etc) in the fall, would it be a good experience? What does pledging look like for a fall rush and is it even worth it to do? As I have thought about it more I just don't want to risk joining a fraternity in the fall and then not be respected by the other brothers in my class that rushed in the spring.