Hi reddit! I started my freshman year of college a bit over a month ago, and while I've made tons of new friends, am doing well in classes, started working out, and am feeling the most confident I ever have in my life, I'm still lost when it comes to dating and talking to girls romantically. I've never really been in a romantic relationship before, and it's something I really want to try out this year! I've made a bunch of female friends, but I still don't know what to do.

My school is somewhat smaller than most universities (10k~ undergrad population), and my friends advise against it, but I really haven't tried any cold approaching, mostly out of fear that I'll build a reputation for myself. Instead, I kinda just sit around libraries and cafeterias looking for opportunities to talk to girls. I've joined clubs and my classes have a decent amount of girls in them, but maybe because they're somewhat nerdier, I'm not really attracted to many girls in them, bar a few.

I guess what my question is... is what should I be doing? I have kinda realized that one of my biggest weaknesses is groups. Sometimes I see girls around from a class who I'm attracted to, but they're usually with their friends so I don't bother them. I kind of have a crush on this one girl in one of my classes, and I sit relatively close to her, but usually she's talking to her friend in class so I don't really do anything. We've talked before at orientation, and we know each others' names, so whenever we pass by each other in a hall or something it's just the usual "hi and bye. " If I ever see her, she's usually with friends, so I don't bother approaching! Kinda lost with that one.

An example from today was that I sat down in the library, just in some random spot since it was somewhat crowded. I thought the girl sitting next to me was kind of cute, but I had no idea what to say to her! Eventually, I had thought of asking her where something was in the library, but she got up and left before I could try it out. Or like maybe, I'll be by myself in the cafeteria, and see a cute girl sitting alone at a table eating. I feel like I'd be bothering her if I asked her if I could eat with her, and usually don't end up asking! Same thing in the library; an empty seat next to a cute girl could be open, but even if I ask her if the seat is taken and sit down, what would I say to her? What do I do in these situations? Advice would be appreciated!