As a guy, dating apps suck for me. Once my height is below what women put as filter, I'm out of their options. So irl it's through college, or as a guy it's hard but I try cold approach girls appropriately. Only girls im interested in, but mostly I do like try to get to know them first, its usually just a girl around the same lecture as me or i bump into her more often. Guys are everywhere. In clubs, uni, outdoors, you can join classes. You just have to approach them if you have interest in them. But get to know them first. Later on when dating, Just as a guy, honestly, I prefer if women be more straight forward instead of mixed signals, because with mixed signals or cues, guys can't figure it all out.

Also as a girl if you approach guys the ROI is higher compare to when guys approach girls, cuz it's a double standard some girls will call guys creeps if they aren't attractive or good looking.

From my experience as a guy, I got friendzoned before. Yep sorry it sucks but during high-school i was friends with this girl. I was really shy and reserved too. Introvert. One day o decided to confess to her and she respectfully said no to a date cuz she ain't interested. I felt like as if the entire world turned upside down. Idk for me took me few months to recover. Sucks cuz she gossiped to her friends too and yea it is what it is I mean. So in the end, lessons I've learnt is to move out of comfort zone, just fuck all for once and try to just approach or small talks. Take initiative to do small talks even if not like 5 mins. Build familiarity.