In college and can't get a girlfriend

Throughout high school I wanted a girlfriend but I was consistently ignored romantically or friend-zoned. After two months in college, romance has been much of the same.
I assumed that with thousands of new girls around, I'd be making friends and have crushes that could develop into relationships. However, its been difficult for me to develop romantic intentions with girls when I don't know them. Its impossible to talk to them; I just don't feel wanted when attempting to have a conversation. For some reason I don't understand, without communication with girls I feel no attraction (physical or emotional) to the girls at my college. This has been startling though it doesn't surprise me. I went to an all male high school and although I had friends who are girls, I had no girl acquaintances. I met girls in a friend of a friend way in which socialization was easy since I was in a comfort zone, around my friends. Now in college, I cannot make any female friends on my own.
I was romantically involved with a few girls in high school but due to my own fears, I never was able to receive a girl friend. Caring about the girls, I was almost relieved when I was dumped into the friend zone, assured that the new guy they like is better than me and will treat her better. Friendships faded as they progressively forget about me more and more but that's okay because I let it happen. But now, I find my lack of confidence an unnecessary road block, keeping me from happiness.
In college now, I often hang out with my friends from high school and meet female friends through them. That's alright but I often find myself doing what I did in high school around girls: being the funny guy and lacking any real personality outside of humor and sarcasm. I feel like its really difficult for people to know me without talking to me on the internet or text.
So yeah, basically I'm just venting, but it'd be cool if I got some feedback on simple ways to have relationships with girls, preferably leading to a girlfriend.