<p>I actually transferred to UIUC, but lived in the residence halls among numerous freshmen. So I got some sense of what life was like for incoming freshmen.</p>
<p>The organizations you mention seem like fun. I agree that joining organizations is a good idea for someone who wants to attend UIUC but doesn’t want to go Greek.</p>
<p>Even so, joining Registered Student Organizations is a wash when comparing different universities. An independent can get involved in student organizations at UIUC. But they also could on almost any other traditional college campus. So at most other universities, someone could still get involved on campus and simultaneously have access to a social scene in which the Greek system isn’t as pervasive.</p>