Hey I'm Paul and newbie (obviously) I'm a pre-vet student at MSU. Let me tell you a short story...

I was 20 at the time and I got a job as a server training to be a bartender at a very popular college bar that did flair bartending (think the movie "cocktail") and my boss was a master PUA, which he used in his business to turn new customers into regular and spend a lot of money (which totally worked.) Anyways, I was shy and socially akward and basically walked into a lions den. I had a hard time talking to customers, I would stutter, shake, avoid eye contact. I was a hot mess. Slowly I got better at the job, but never really mastered it. He was trying to teach a group of newbies some seriously advanced techniques and they CONSTANTLY blew up in our faces. I give him kudos though, he exposed me to myself and helped me realize that I was a wimp. Needless to say I quit the job and started working on my inner game with some of the techniques that I remembered from him and from what I've read online. I started going to bars and just saying "Hey" to the people next to me, followed by some casual bar banter and turn my attention back to the game/friends. This seriously helped my inner game, I'm much more confident now. I can walk up to anyone and have a regular authentic conversation. I've got a sense of humor, I'm goofy (but not immature) and I can make any girl smile. Also, working out has helped my confidence, I'm no beef cake, but I am in shape and it makes me feel 100% better about myself by just working out for an hour everyday. Now here's my problem, I've got the "Hey how's it going" part down and I can even go to the next level, but when I get there I'm totally screwed, my brain starts going a mile a minute, it becomes forced and not authentic and I end up crashing and burning. This does not happen all the time, but about 75% of the time I fuck up. I either come on to aggressive or to weak. Obviously I'm going to take some time and read the forums before I ask any serious questions.

Things I've got going for myself:
In a few years I will be a Doctor, even better a Veterinarian (I didn't pick this profession because of how easy it will be to pick up women, animals are awesome.)
I'm in pretty good shape
I can hold a basic conversation
I've got a sense of humor

Things that suck for me right now:
My hair is thinning, I will probably be bald before I'm 35. I can only blame genetics and the stress of med-school. I have accepted this and refuse to use chemicals or hair plugs.
I'm in med school, going out is pretty limited (money and school) however I can use these techniques in class (which I have done)

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Cheers!