Max, you are a lot like I was at your age as far as the dating and socializing aspect. I have never liked the bar scene mostly because of cigarette smoke. I just can't stand to be in a smoky bar. Back in the olden days when I was dating almost everyone smoked in the bars. I quickly learned if you meet a girl in a bar she will want to go back, a lot. All the chicks at bars were professional drinkers, not social drinkers.
I would go for several months at a time with no real social life because I got into another hobby that had few if any women. Astronomy, model airplanes, computers, cars, and so many of my hobbies had almost no females. I counted once and came up with 18 hobbies.
Chasing women is the most expensive of all the hobbies. It was real easy to blow a year's tire budget for autocrossing on a few dates, and I am NOT talking about hookers.
I dated a lot of very different women. From the earth mother new age hippy types, school teachers, veterinarians, and scientific researchers. I learned I wanted an smart woman that could understand the world around them. A lady that can actually understand algebra, computers and carry on a conversation about something other the fashion or TV shows and movie stars.
The advice everyone tells you is to "be yourself" and that was what I was most puzzled by. How can I be anything but myself?
I finally understood that is means answer the questions honestly. If a girl asks if you like something or how you see things don't just try to tell them what you think they want to hear. You don't have to say RAP music sucks balls even though it does just let them know you don't want to go to see a RAP concert.