<human>: Can you succinctly summarize the text in 1-3 sentences?

Hi everybody. 

I am in graduate school in the northeast US in a program that is highly specialized, prestigious, and competitive. Each year's class is about 10 students who move through the program together. We become quite close and, although it's competitive, we really rely on each other's support to get through it successfully. There is no rule about not dating within your class, and the school and teachers could not care less, but there's kind of an unspoken rule within the culture of the program that you don't date someone in your class. Kind of a "don't sh*t where you eat" thing. That being said, it happens -- but I guess often when it ends, it doesn't end well. 

I've started to realize over the past month or two that I am really starting to fall for my classmate Stephen. We've gotten along since day one of the program and I have never felt that competitiveness with him -- just genuine support for one another. He's really someone I could see myself spending my life with - and that both scares and excites me. I honestly have no clue if he sees me that way too or not. Because of the nature of our program, I think people just assume that any romantic interest that you could interpret just isn't actually there, so you're never really looking out for that... if that makes any sense? I really don't know how to tell him how I feel, or find out how he feels, without causing some weird scene that everyone in the program finds out about. 

Admittedly too, and I think this is important: most of us spend so much time pouring ourselves into our studies and into this program, that dating in general takes a backseat. For me personally, I can honestly say that even if Stephen wasn't in this program with me, I would have trouble showing that I am interested without feeling like a goofball totally forcing it... and have trouble catching the signs back. 

Advice?
<bot>: In a grad school program where dating peers is not common and a bit taboo. I'm falling for a classmate and don't know how to tell if he feels the same way, or how to tell him, or if I should!