i see another chick just chilling walk up and we started dancing and next thing i know we start making out, 20mins in this manly dyke ass lesbian comes out of nowhere and tells me stay away from my girl you punk. i was just like

throught the entire time
In any case, having a sense of humor goes a long way.
I'm admittedly an aloof guy in reality but can be so with lighthearted, sarcastic humor tossed in.
You can easily talk your way into a females pants in a week and some change on a college campus if she thinks you're even halfway decent looking & funny.
But it requires you be naturally quick witted and it's not worth a damn if someone is in your position and unsure how to strike up conversation.
I would suggest try the females in your classes. Typically not many in engineering courses, but it's a start.
Easy way to start a conversation with a female in your class is letting out a groan and remarking that you can't wait for the semester to end or ____ break.
99% of the time you'll get some varation of "Amen!" & it's an ice breaker.
You can also gauge interest by how she replies.
Most females who think you're attractive will grin from ear to ear when you strike up that first conversation and get a little peppy.
Voice gets all high pitched and they maintain that eye contact. At that point, she's happy you spoke and is feeling you out.
You can read the body language and tell whether or not she's into you for the most part during that initial exchange.
From there, strike up conversation about the course and feign needing help.
It should flow after that, you just have to be careful to not talk yourself OUT of the situation.
It's honestly just instinctive after awhile.