What is the best way to turn a classmate into a first date?

He said:
First and foremost, if you are in a work group with this person in class you have the obvious advantage. Make sure it doesn’t take away from your productivity, but use the time working together to showcase your personality, your charm and what makes you overall awesome. Don’t lay it on too thick. Nothing is more of a turn off than showing off or, worse yet, getting caught showing off to impress a certain someone. Before I wound up with my lovely girlfriend, I did this all the time and got less than successful results, as I did too little or too much. Strike that balance and you have a shot at getting them to say yes to a first date.

Now, if they are just a run-of-the-mill, regular classmate then it’ll take a little more work. The obvious first idea is to try and sit by them during class (though God forbid you disrupt the balance of seating, where everyone chooses the same seat every day). Unless you are one of the most handsome men on the planet, if you just randomly sit by a girl one day she’ll catch on and be uninterested. Guys tend to be more susceptible to this. If an attractive girl sits next to us, our day is made. Sometimes, however, it backfires too if the guy isn’t interested.

This requires a more subtle approach. Hold the door open for him/her after class if you’re leaving at the same time, strike up some small talk, compliment something they said during class you found smart or interesting. Present yourself in a very welcoming way without coming on too strong. Try and develop an acquaintanceship in one form or another to open a doorway to a first date. Otherwise, you’ll just need a little bit of luck for that opportunity to show. Demonstrate what makes you great and capitalize on it.

She said:
Well, I would say a great time to turn a classmate into a first date would be Valentine’s Day, but unfortunately that was last week, so we’ll have to rely on your charm and confidence instead! Just because romance is no longer in the air doesn’t mean you can’t kindle a flame.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the past, especially now that I’m in my twenties, it’s that honesty is the best policy and games just don’t cut it anymore. So, if you’re into someone, it’s best to just be up front about it. All too often we’re too afraid of rejection, or whatever it may be, to put ourselves out there.

With that said, you shouldn’t put this off any longer — it’s time to take your friendship to the next level — or at least try. I would suggest starting off small, however, just so you don’t come on too strong. Trust me, there is a balance between being too subtle and bring completely honest about wanting to date them, and you’ll just have to work to find it.

I would do this by inviting him or her to study with you — go to the library together or meet at a coffee shop to study. Since they’re your classmate, I’m assuming you’ve got a class or two together, which is perfect because you’ve already got some common ground. If there’s an outside activity the class requires you do or go to, maybe you should do that together.

Take the initiative to ask them to study with you or go to said activity. You’ll find out quickly whether they’re into you by how they respond. If you end up studying together, take that opportunity to ask them to hang out again. Let them know how much you really like them and would like a chance to hang out, outside of school-related activities.

Hopefully by taking this one step at a time, and by being honest about how you feel, you’ll find yourself with a date soon. Chances are he/she feels the same way and is just too shy to say anything about it. You, however, will remain confident and take the initiative! What do you have to lose? I wish you the best of luck.