Ariz0na -
- Not all dorms are shoddy - my kids both went ResCol - and they were happy with that. BTW - Slivka is best res college and physical plant on campus… http://www.northwestern.edu/living/housing-options/res-colleges/slivka-programmatic/slivka/index.html NU is also going through some upgrades on campus housing.
- All students can be cliquey... and my kids are both on the quiet side - enginerds as they called themselves proudly... BUT they both participated in their dorm's IM sports, and joined club sports - and have a great group of friends. My D and her group all fly to East Coast every year to get together. Son's group of close friends were all the kids he met at his res college freshmen year - and still close to at graduation - and we have the pictures to prove it! :) The Res College study groups were also helpful in meeting & developing relationships with other students.
- Neither of my kids were Greek - even though Big Brother was an officer with a frat at anther school. So, to answer your question - yes, you can make friends outside of Greekness. Even if you are on the quiet side.
Good Luck - You can PM me if you want more details.