You make the walk, find your seat, and pull out your notebook or laptop before lecture starts. You take in your atmosphere and… you do a double take. Sitting just a few rows away from you is quite possibly the cutest of all Campus Cuties. This class just got a little more interesting. Lucky for you, it’s only the beginning of the semester. You have a few months to find some gumption and make it happen with this guy.
But by now you may be wondering: “Yeah, I’ve got time, but how on Earth do I get his attention without looking like a crazy person?” No worries, collegiettes. We have ten ways for you to catch his eye and make him wonder why he’s never noticed you before!
1. Pick a Strategic Location
Let’s be honest – the whole “admiring him from afar” thing will get you nowhere! And as sweaty as your palms may get at the idea of sitting next to this guy during your next class, it’s definitely worth a try. Chances are you were sitting fairly close when you first spotted him, so moving a few seats over for “a better view of the PowerPoint slides” won’t be obvious.
2. Dress to Impress
Before he can fall in love with your incredible personality, he is going to notice your appearance. No, this doesn’t mean you need to spend an extra hour in front of the mirror everyday, but a little extra effort can go a long way. Give your sweatpants a break for awhile and run a brush through your hair – quick fixes that won’t require much more effort! Looking put-together and ready to tackle your day will be noticed – and it will give you a boost of confidence going into class when you know you’re looking good!
Think of it in the same way you’d think of a big event. You’re willing to put time in then to look your best so that you will feel your best too. “No one is going to make a great impression if they’re feeling self-conscious,” says Carly from the University of Kansas. “I would treat this situation the same as I would if it were an interview – you’re probably going to be a little nervous and you don’t want to add more things to worry about into the equation.”
3. Wear Team Apparel
This wouldn’t apply to every guy, but it’s safe to say that a lot of guys are into sports, and possibly, you are too! If you own a shirt or cap that proudly shows off your favorite team, it may be just what he needs to break the ice. “If the girl wears some sort of sports attire, that definitely would give off an easy way for me to break the ice and start conversation,” says Andrew from San Francisco State. “Guys love sports, so if a girl can wear something that shows off what team she likes, it’s probably a team that is from where she’s from, and bam you are talking about hometowns and sports. At least for me, I’m a sports nut, so definitely wear a ball cap or sports t-shirt or something.” Luckily, this same logic can apply to more than just sports. Wearing something that flaunts the place you grew up, the organizations you participate in, or the music you like will give him a clue about how to approach you!
4. Answer Questions in Class
Showing off your knowledge of chemistry might be just the thing that creates chemistry between you and the hottie two seats down. In lecture students generally keep their eyes on whoever is talking (if they’re paying attention). If you’re in a big class, answering a question in class will make him notice you among the sea of hundreds of students. According to Cliff from Arizona State University, “Guys love a girl who’s intelligent, motivated, and confident, and speaking up in class displays all three.” And who knows? One right answer could have him going to you the next time he needs some help.
5. Start a Study Group
Why not make test time something you don’t dread as much? Starting a study group sets you up with a perfect environment for flirting and success as long as you are able to focus on actually studying too (he’s not worth failing a class for!).You get an excuse to hang out without having to make a move or be one-on-one right away. Not to mention, by the end of the class, you take away a good grade and some quality time with your crush. Isn’t it always nice to kill two birds with one stone? We suggest you don’t invite him right away and start with people you know. That way, you won’t end up in a situation where you invited him to a study group, nobody else shows up and you end up looking like you made it up. It’s also important to find a quiet/not crowded place so that there is plenty of easy opportunity to have a conversation!
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6. Get Off Your Cell Phone
These days, it’s common to see people’s faces buried in their cell phones as they walk through campus. Sometimes it’s legitimate and other times it’s because we just want to avoid any interactions and get on with our day. Unfortunately when you do this, it probably doesn’t look as natural as you might think. “Whenever I’m walking towards a girl and I see her rapidly grab her phone and start texting someone, I now assume that she’s faking,” says Ben from the University of Missouri. “Usually there’s a lot of jerky movements and a slightly panicky face involved so it’s incredibly obvious that she is caught off guard and wants to retreat to the safety of her phone.” When you see your crush, take a few deep breaths and keep walking forward – no turning around or reaching for your cell phone (after all, this might make him think you’re avoiding him because you don’t like him)! He may not happen to see you but if he does, he’ll notice your body language first. Keep a calm face (with a smile prepared in case you make eye contact), slow your pace slightly (giving him more opportunity to see you), and know that whether he sees you or not, you’re still looking mighty fine.
7. Get Involved On Campus
When your network of friends grows, your name is brought up more often by the people you come across. Think of it as free publicity and a way to increase the odds that he will come across you on campus. The quickest way to do this is by getting involved. Join a club or some kind of student government and to speed up the process of getting noticed, talk about your organization in class and encourage others to get involved! You may find yourself successfully recruiting the apple of your eye! When you recruit him to join your organization, it just seems like you’re trying to boost numbers. He will have a stress-free way to show up and see you if he’s interested in you too! Aside from catching this guy’s attention, you’ll also be doing something that’s good for you regardless of whether he notices you or not. Staying involved on campus will look good on your resume, give you valuable life experiences, and keep you from ever finding yourself sitting at home watching re-runs on a weekend night!
8. Make “Accidental” Eye Contact and Smile
If you happen to see him at a party, you’re definitely in luck. It’s a casual scenario away from the restriction of a classroom and you’ll be able to see how he interacts with other people firsthand (hopefully not a girlfriend). You may still be hesitant to make a move, so start by making eye contact every once in a while from across the room. If it happens more than once, give an inviting smile that says, “Hey! I’m warm and approachable so come over here and find out who I am!”
If he makes a move and walks over to you, you already have the perfect icebreaker. All you have to say is, “Haven’t I seen you in my biology class before?” Letting him know that you’ve noticed him too will calm any nerves he has too.
9. Be His “Damsel in Distress”
Who says chivalry is dead? Next time you find yourself needing some assistance, don’t be too proud to ask for help. Jake from the University of Texas has experienced the effectiveness of this firsthand. “One time after class it was pouring out and I’d thought to bring an umbrella but a girl that sat near me didn’t. As we were walking out, she asked me where I was headed and it ended up being close to where she lived. She asked me if I wouldn’t mind sharing my umbrella with her, and I said it wasn’t a problem. We ended up having a great conversation during our walk and I asked for her number at the end of it. A while after we’d been seeing each other, she confessed to me that she had an umbrella in her backpack but she wanted an excuse to talk to me! I was really flattered and glad that she asked.”
10. Pass Him a Note
Ok, ok, ok, so this one is a little old school but we’ve got to hand it to Lisa from Ball State University, who took a risky move to have it pay off big time! “I spotted this incredibly attractive guy the very first day of class last semester,” Lisa says. “Three times a week, I’d see him and wonder if I had what it took to approach him and introduce myself. All semester my friends asked me after each class if I’d finally talked to him… and every time I said no. Eventually it was time for the final class. I finished my exam and noticed he was still working. So, I mustered up some courage, wrote ‘Hi, my name is Lisa and I’d love to get to know you. Call me maybe?’ and left my number. As I walked out of the classroom, I left it on his desk. About a week later, he called me and we’ve been dating ever since!” This collegiette is living proof that sometimes, resorting to unique tactics to catch his eye is worth it in the end (but be careful if it’s during an exam so your professor doesn’t think your love note is something more unethical)!
With these tricks up your sleeve, he’ll have no idea what hit him (besides the obvious wave of intrigue to get to know you)! Any other tips of your own? Leave a comment!