<p>While it may seem like everyone is Greek, in reality only 23% of students there are Greek, meaning 77% are not Greek like you. Among those who are not Greek there are bound to be non-drinkers – certainly in some of the religious groups you will find some people who don’t drink. I went to a public university four years and never once set foot in a fraternity or sorority house or had a drink or even showed up at a drinking party, and the university was in the middle of nowhere. I made the best of it by joining some student groups and getting involved in the community, writing for publications, etc. Keep trying to find your people while you are there. It sounds to me like your challenge is mostly missing home, including your own basement workout, your dog, your car, etc. Ask your parents to give you a car, so you at least have that. And set up Skype so you can actually see your parents and your dog on the Internet. If it looks like they are going to insist on you staying at UI, then check out the co-op programs, and sign up to go work in a big city somewhere else every other semester. I co-oped in Houston, and that got me out of the small town. </p>