You've made a tough decision for the situation you're in and I applaud you for sticking by your guns, whatever your reasons. I also agree with you that it's not much fun to be sober around people who are wasted.
But I disagree with your assertion that everyone in college drinks and it's the only way to meet people. A lot of people drink in college, yes, and a lot of social activity revolves around booze, but not all people or all social activity. There are still plenty of ways to make friends and have fun beyond the frat row kegger or the corner bar, especially on a large campus. You just have to be creative and look a little harder than most to find your niche.
I won't ask you your reasons for not drinking -- that's your business -- but it matters whether you are doing it by choice or doing it because you have a drinking problem. I think it will be impossible to avoid drinking situations altogether without missing out on some of the things that make college fun, like parties, football games, road trips, etc. If you are a teetotaler simply because you want to be, surely you can be around drunk people every now and then if it means experiencing college to the full. If being with imbibers is a threat to your sobriety, however, you should steer clear.
You don't mention the size of your school, and activities vary by campus size, so it's difficult for me to make specific suggestions. I will say that Greek life generally revolves around drinking, so you probably want to avoid that. No one ever stayed sober living in a dorm for four years, either. Maybe you could find one or two non- or light-drinking friends to live with off campus.
Beyond that, I think your best bet is to get involved with activities that have a focal point other than drinking, whether it's sports or media (campus newspaper, radio, etc) or the arts (music, drama, etc). Yes, I realize that people in sports and media drink -- I worked for my campus newspaper in college and I don't know how it ever got published between all the nights of drinking. But for these groups, booze is a side thing, not the focal point, so there will be plenty of events that aren't hooch-based, and you can skip the ones that are.
If you are religious, most campuses have groups for all major religions and denominations. Volunteering is another great way to meet people who are interested in doing more than getting faced every Friday night (not that there's anything wrong with that; to each his own).
If none of that works, you can always hang with the potheads. You a Phish fan?
I liked your answer to this one, Cary. Well said.
To the question asker, I'd just like to say, be yourself and live your life your way. Don't let others try to change you and make you be someone you don't want to be.
You can find and make friends who don't drink. They are out there. I did it. So can you. You'll have to look somewhere beside the party scene, but there are plenty of other places to look.
You can also be friends with those who do drink. I've done that too. I'd drink a diet Pepsi, they'd drink a beer. I was the designated driver quite often for several of the girls I lived with in the college dorms. You don't have to do that, though, if it isn't for you. People will eventually realize who you are and respect you for your decisions. Just be yourself. Hold onto what you believe.
i get sick from alcohol easily, so i don't always drink (or only have one drink) when i'm at some party/social gathering. doesn't make the experience any less fun for me :)
The great thing about college is that there is literally a group of friends for everyone. If I were you I'd seek out like-minded individuals or even create your own group -- put up flyers for a fun booze-free event and see who comes out of the woodwork. You just never know who you'll meet!
I've always been in that boat too. It doesn't end after college either. The vast majority of the adult world seems to socialize around alcohol. But it is possible to find friends and activities outside of that zone. Cary's suggestions and the suggestions of the commenters are all good ones. And it's not so bad being around the drunkards from time to time. It's always fun to be able to say "Dude, you have no idea how goofy you looked last night when you...." the next day. That can bring you closer to people too. Who knows, you might even get a reputation as the reliable, go-to friend without any drunk bad karma to get in the way of friendships.
Excellent answer, Cary. Covers all the important points. I have never been a big drinker from college on. The groups I hung out with then, most people would drink but not excessively so I didn't feel pressured to. Now, even after-work functions will find me having a cranberry juice with a slice of lime to squeeze into it, if it's not an iced tea (non-alcoholic version).
Everyone's right here - you can seek out groups and activities that are not so centered on drinking and still have a good time. Nowadays, habits like drinking (and smoking, too) are more socially aware ones as to their downside.
A lot of colleges have healthy lifestyles, living/learning communities. The one at my school even has specific housing for non-drinkers, drug users, etc. That's what I'm in now. I occasionally meet some people who are just in it because their parents made them and still booze it up, but usually things like that are full of people who made similar choices about not drinking. See if your school has something like that. Even if it's not a specific housing community, they might just have a club, or something.
I can totally relate to the question asker because i don't drink. Even though i'm constantly picked on at social gatherings because of that, i don't let that bother me much. It's who i am and i'm not going to drink to make someone else happy.
To the question asker, i definitely understand you, but it's your choice, so stick to it. All my friends drink and it doesn't bother me when we are out. If you don't want to hang out with people who drink, Cary gave you some great suggestions.
On a lighter note, there is a benefit to hang out with drunk people!!! That's when they tell you about all their dirty little secret.. I LOVE that :)