Do You Think I Should Join?

[stockholmjoy]

I am a senior in high school who was going to go to a small private college in Chicago, but decided to attend a large state school closer to home for financial reasons. I have a lot of high school friends who are also attending this university. For various reasons, however, I want to acquire a new group of friends when I get to college. I realize that it is certainly not my only option, but would joining a fraternity prove useful for this?
I generally study for two to four hours a day, and this is very important to me. I do not want to give this up. Yet, I feel I may have to alter my schedule significantly if I were to live in a frat house.

1. By living in a standard dorm, would I encounter more difficulties in staying connected to the members?
2. Are there generally fraternities that do have a (somewhat) serious side concerning academics?

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy partying a lot, but there are limits. One of my friends joined a frat and he drinks a little too much in my opinion. I don't want to even waste my time if every fraternity is filled with complete alcoholics, but then again, I do like the idea of having a good party on the weekend.