Kinda funny, I was a "nerd" in HS, but also an athlete (both bballs). So, I didn't quite fit in anywhere, which was fine with me.
They had this thing called "Key Club", which to me looked pretty pointless, but they had a very public initiation during school, and it comprised folks doing some pretty unpleasant things, like pushing a brick down the hall with your nose and wiping toilet water (used) on your cheeks. I was invited my senior year, which meant I'd get initiated but not be able to initiate (not that I wanted to), I declined. The coach who was head of it tried to talk me into it. I declined. I don't think they DID anything of use, it was akin to Latin Club, but the dudes in it were the popular dudes, mostly, all athletes. I have taken the Groucho mantra to heart.
I was on the Annual Staff as a photographer, which was actually pretty fun. I shot Tri X Pan and developed it in the back of the physics lab.
I witnessed a lot of guys joining fraternities at UGA of course, even went to one "rush" and say and drank their beer. My cousin joined one. At least there was an ostensible benefit in that.