This paper describes a study in progress that is designed to examine the pressures that low-income, first generation African-American college students experience to leave college and the factors that help them stay in college, especially as the elements are related to Vincent Tinto's concept of social integration. It is planned to examine the experiences of 12 to 30 African-American students who originally enrolled at Temple University in Philadelphia, half of whom returned to school after their freshman year and half of whom did not return to Temple or any other educational institution. In-depth, focused interviews will be conducted with each participant. The coding scheme is expected to reflect the major concerns of the study--what background characteristics or activities have influenced students to attend, remain in, or leave college; what obligations outside the university environment are impacting students' college experience; and what elements of the college environment have positively or negatively influenced student persistence or attrition. (Contains 28 references.) (MDM)