Hi Reddit, I need a bit of advice. I'm a 21 year old male and I can't seem to get a girlfriend for the life of me, and I honestly have no idea why. I don't mean to come across in cocky/entitled like I should have one, but I just don't know where I'm going wrong and could use some help. I see a lot of my friends having fun with girlfriends and want to be part of it.

I've read a bit of advice and tried to follow it. I am at university so have no shortage of social circles and opportunities to meet people, so that isn't an issue. I'm in decent shape and I like to think dress reasonably well compared to a lot of other guys my age. I'm slightly below average height and pretty average looking.

I have hobbies that include playing piano to an advanced level and I captain a football (soccer) team with my friends. I also volunteer once a week at a local mental health hospital.

I'd say I'm a reasonably confident guy and quite easy to get on with. I know I'm not perfect, I can be a little opinionated times. I'd say on the face of things, again at danger of sounding arrogant, I'd like to say I'm a reasonably well put together guy with good social circle, hobbies etc.

I've never been very successful with girls but in the last year or so I've been making a real effort to try and put myself out more. I don't have a problem talking to girls, but it's more making a move e.g. asking them on a date or expressing romantic interest. I've never had a girlfriend before, I've hooked up with a few girls but it's never been more than just a drunk hook up casual sort of thing.

In the last year I've pushed myself and asked a few girls on a date, and a few of them said yes. In the last 7 months or so I've been on dates with four different girls. Three of them I went on two dates with, one of them I went on three dates with. All 4 of them rejected me in the end and let me down easy by saying they didn't think it'd work out. 2 of these girls I went on dates with there wasn't much of a connection so I wasn't surprised by their responses but the other two I thought we had a good time together so was quite surprised to be rejected

I'm not overly picky but at the same time I have some level of standards, I'm not willing to date anyone, So I don't think being too pick is the issue.

I have read a little seduction advice but I don't want to get too bogged down in it, I think reading that stuff too much can make you obssess over it and turn it into a game so I'd rather stay away from it. I read models by Mark Manson and it seemed like solid advice that I have been trying to put into practice but again have had little success in terms of results.

It is frustrating because I see lots of my friends getting girlfriends and having fun and I really want to be a part of that, and I'm not really sure where I'm going wrong. I have mentioned it to a couple of friends and usually they just say things like "dont worry you'll meet someone" or "don't worry about girls at the moment, just focus on yourself and your career and the girls will come later!". Which is all well and good, but I would like the experience of girlfriend whilst I am still relatively young.

I guess you may ask why I want a girlfriend and it's not just for the sake of it so I can say I've got a girlfriend, but because it genuinely sounds like a life enriching experience. I've spoken to a couple of guys who have got new girlfriends and the way they talk about them makes it sound like a really special experience. People always say you learn a lot about yourself in a relationship. Also I just want someone to hang out with, go on dates with, and of course I would be lying if I said I wasn't jealous of the regular sex aswell haha. I think everyone can agree have a fulfilling romantic life is a key part of a fulfilling life but it is something I am really struggling with, but I can't seem to work out where I am going wrong.

Any advice would be helpful!

tl;dr: Can't get a girlfriend and don't know why.