How to Know if a Guy Likes You in School

Co-authored by John Keegan and Amy Bobinger

Last Updated: January 24, 2023 References Approved

It can be hard to tell if someone likes you romantically, especially when you’re at school and there are a hundred other things going on. Luckily, there is a lot you can find out just by paying attention to a guy’s body language and how he acts around you on a daily basis. If you think he might like you, look for some of these signs to get a better idea of what’s going on!

1

Does he make a lot of eye contact?

Pay attention to how often he looks at you. If you start to notice that he stares at you on a daily basis, and if you don’t have anything weird stuck in your teeth, this could be a sign that he is into you.^{[1]
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Research source} If he makes direct eye contact with you when you pass in the hallway and gives you a smile, he is definitely noticing you and interested in being friendly.^{[2]
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Expert Source

John Keegan
Dating Coach
Expert Interview. 5 November 2019.}
- If you catch him looking at you and he quickly looks away, that means he was definitely looking at you and not just in your general area.
- Don't be discouraged if he seems to be giving you lots of attention one day and not the next. He might have something else on his mind that day, but it doesn't necessarily mean he's not thinking about you.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  John Keegan
  Dating Coach
  Expert Interview. 5 November 2019.}
- If he looks right at you and smiles, think about what kind of guy he is in general. Do you notice him flirting with lots of people? Or is he generally shy? If he is a flirt, he may still be interested in you, but pay attention to his actions to find out for sure!

2

Does he give you special attention?

Notice whether he talks to you more than the other people around him. Does he seek out your company? Does he try to talk to you and keep your attention even when other people are around? Look out for these other types of special treatment:^{[4]
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- Does he come to your defense if someone is teasing you?
- Does he hold open doors, wait for you after class, or ask to borrow things from you?
- Does he listen to you attentively when you speak?
- If this guy is really outgoing and friendly to everyone, it may be hard to tell if he is treating you differently. You may have to pay attention for a while longer to definitely find out.

3

Does he try to sit next to you?

Leave some space open next to you at lunch or the next sporting event. Try to pick a spot where there's a free seat beside you instead of surrounding yourself on both sides with friends. This is especially a great idea if you are both in the same friend group and tend to end up in common areas anyway. It’ll be easy for him to move next to you so you can talk.^{[5]
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- If he does sit next to you, pay attention to how often his body brushes against yours and how interested he is in talking to you. Being in close proximity is a great way to get a better idea of whether or not he is into you.

4

How often does he interact with you in class?

Check out whether he responds when you're talking. If you and your classmates have a chance to talk, answer questions, tell stories, or interact in any way, observe him to see if he is giving you special attention. For example, he might laugh at a joke you tell, piggy-back off an answer you give, or say something encouraging to you.^{[6]
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5

Does he try to make you laugh?

See if he watches your reaction when he makes jokes. Whether he is talking directly to you or to a group of his friends, see if he is checking out your response to his stories or jokes. If he glances your way to see how you’re responding, this means he cares that you notice him.^{[7]
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- If he tries to make you laugh and seems happy when you do, that’s another sign he may like you.

6

Do you notice that he gets flustered around you?

Keep an eye out for tripping or other clumsy behavior. This won’t be true with all guys, but it’s a fairly common thing that happens. If he likes you, he may get tongue-tied, trip, knock things over, or just seem a bit clumsier than usual when he gets near you. If he drops his books or knocks something off if his desk when you walk by, he may like you.^{[8]
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- Think about how you act when you get close to your crush. Chances are, this guy experiences really similar feelings when he’s around someone (maybe you!) that he likes.

7

Has he asked you to team up on a class project?

He might be into more than just your smarts. Sure, he might only want to work together is to make the most of your brilliant lab skills or impressive artistic talent. But, if he always seems to single you out when it's time to partner up, there's a chance he's just looking to get close to you.^{[9]
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- The next time your class has a team project coming up, don’t rush to sign up with your BFF. Instead, give him a chance to offer to work together. If he keeps looking at you, give him an encouraging smile so he feels more confident approaching you.
- If you’re feeling really brave, you could even ask him if he wants to work with you.

8

Has he asked you to be his study buddy?

Wait to see if he asks you to get together to study for class. This is a classic way that guys will try to get closer to someone they like. If you share classes, he may send you a text or catch up with you after class to see if you want to hang out and prepare for the next test that’s coming up.^{[10]
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- If you want to spend more time with this guy but know you can’t after school, suggest studying together during lunch or a free period.
- If you're already part of a study group, invite him to join! Then, pay attention to how much he talks to you compared to the rest of the group.

9

Does he seem to be picking up your hobbies?

Keep an eye out for him joining clubs and groups you belong to. That could be a sign that he wants to spend more time around you. He may notice that you’re involved in things like drama club, band, sports, student council, the yearbook team, key club, or other school activities, and decide to join up to get to know you better.^{[11]
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- This can be really flattering, and it can be a great way for you to get to know each other better.

10

Do his friends tease you when he's around?

If he has a crush on you, his friends probably know. They might whisper when you walk by, nudge him and laugh, or punch him to tease him. If there wasn’t something going on, his friends probably wouldn’t be acting that way.^{[12]
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- Keep in mind that rumors aren’t always true. If you can combine a rumor with several other signs that he likes you, though, that’s a pretty good sign of his feelings.

11

Has he called or texted you?

He probably likes you if he's getting in touch outside of school. If this guy calls you or sends you messages via email, text, or social media, that’s a sign he might be interested in you. He may even start liking and commenting on your posts, giving you more things to connect over when you’re back in school the next day.^{[13]
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Expert Source

John Keegan
Dating Coach
Expert Interview. 5 November 2019.} Bonus points if he leaves comments, responds to your stories, or sends you memes that remind him of you.^{[14]
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- Don’t be surprised if he uses classes as an excuse to start texting you. Maybe he will say he has questions about the test coming up or wants to start a study group.
- You can also pay attention to how quickly he responds to messages. The faster he responds, the more eager he is to talk!
- Don’t forget to engage with his social media, too. Like his posts, ask him questions, and try to find common interests if this is someone you’d like to become friendlier with.

12

Does he find excuses to touch you?

For instance, he might touch your arm in class to get your attention. Physical touch is a huge indicator of attraction. Does he tap your shoulder or place his hand on your arm to get your attention? If you’re talking, does he reach over and make physical contact? Does he try to sit beside you in class or on the bus?^{[15]
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- If you think this guy might like you and you don’t like him, any kind of physical touch could be really uncomfortable. If this is the case, try to step back whenever you’re near him so it’s harder for him to touch you. It’s also totally okay to say something like, “Please stop touching me. I don’t like it.”

13

Does he want to hang out?

He could be hoping it will turn into a date. You could say something like, “I was thinking of going to the football game this weekend,” or “That new movie is coming out on Friday. I’ve really been wanting to see it,” and see how he responds. If he offers to go with you or suggests getting together to do the activity, he is definitely interested in spending more time with you.^{[16]
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- Even if you can’t hang out one-on-one, he may indicate that he’d like to get a group of friends together to do something fun. This may be a way he can spend more time with you without risking being rejected if he isn’t sure of how you feel yet.

14

Have you asked him directly?

If he likes you, he'll probably just admit it. If you feel pretty certain that he likes you and you just have to know, you could definitely have a direct conversation with him. This can be a little risky, especially if you’re friends, but it can also give you a lot of clarity.^{[17]
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- If you can, ask him in person. But, if you just can’t bring yourself to do that, you could always send him a text, write him an email, call him on the phone, DM him on social media.
- Try Saying This: “Ryan, I’ve been wanting to ask you something. Do you like me as more than a friend?” You could also say something like, “I’m not sure how to say this exactly, but do you have feelings for me?” You could also let him know that it’s okay if he doesn’t like you, but you have been wondering and wanted to clear the air.

Community Q&A

Question

I told my friend who I liked because it was a dare. Turns out she is dating him. She told him I liked him. The whole class knows now. He acts the same from before he knew. What do I do?

Sarah Battilana

Community Answer

If he is acting the same, you could try and act normal, too. It stinks that your friend did that to you! Try to move on and remember that this moment will fade away quickly and people won't remember it forever.
Question

what if he shows you all the signs but he still denies it when you ask?

Sarah Battilana

Community Answer

It's possible he does like you but isn't ready to admit it yet, for one reason or another. Maybe he is shy, afraid of being rejected, or it could be that he may like you but isn't sure yet. The best thing is to give him space and let him tell you himself if he likes you when he is ready.
Question

I need help, so this boy I like does all of this however he does to a few other girls but it isn’t every girl. I can’t tell whether that means he does or doesn’t. What should I do?

Sarah Battilana

Community Answer

You could keep watching to see what happens. He may just like to flirt with lots of girls, which is a thing that happens. You could also ask him how he feels if you absolutely have to know.