Most students feel that Greek life dominates the social scene at UVA. Many are bitter about this and find it superficial, costly, obnoxious, and over-prevalent. Those involved in Greek life, however, love the people they have met and the relationships they have formed. All sorts of people are involved in the Greek scene, as well as in the non-Greek scene. Frat parties are open to everyone, but when you get to the door, it often comes down to who you know, which frustrates many people who aren't connected in the frat. There can be a lot of bitterness directed at Greek life in general, as some fraternities and sororities are unfortunately stereotyped as being snobby, superficial, and obnoxious. But, it's good to keep in mind that the stereotypes don't hold true for everyone in any given organization.
On the whole, Greek life only really dominates the campus if you want it to. Of course, fraternities and sororities are a big part of UVA; but keep in mind, this is not the Greek school it once was. At certain times of the academic year, it feels as if the whole school is doing the Greek thing—semi-formals, Foxfield horse races, football games, rush—but when you look closer, you’ll see that this is certainly not the case. There are plenty of other groups to join (literary magazines, a cappella groups, theatrical groups, athletic groups, and community service organizations). In any case, even if you don’t consider the Greek option, at least go to a frat party at some point—they really can be a fun time, or at least, an interesting experience.