Social influence/peer groups was one of the dominant themes in my observations, investigation, and literature. Social influence examines how individual thoughts, actions, and feelings are influenced by social groups (Aronson, 2010). The desire to be accepted and liked by others can lead to dangerous behavior. College life can be an overwhelming experience for new and/or transfer students, as they struggle to manage class time and social activities in an attempt to fit into a new environment to which they may not be familiar. - not be used to it. Students may experience too much anxiety and drop out or fall behind in classes. While working at the Cambell Student Union Information Center, I observed a large number of students fall into this trap of social influence and peer pressure. A student tripped while walking up the stairs to Spot Coffee, but did not fall. What appears to be a group of unpopular guys (guys who aren't very well known) were sitting where popular students usually sit. The group of guys started making fun of the girl and stopped. One guy kept laughing, but it was obvious he was forcing the laugh deliberately to get attention. He started making jokes about the girl and kept laughing to seem funny. Another example, which illustrates the influence of peers, concerns parties organized on weekends. Several students said they fell behind in their classes because their friends wanted to go out the night before and they didn't want to appear "lame," so they tagged along. A group's influence is intensified by the person's desire to be an accepted member of the peer group. To achieve this desire, he tries to conform on a daily basis to the models approved by the group...... middle of article ......t involvement and perceptions of integration in an informal model of student perseverance. Research in Higher Education, 40, 641-664. Light, J. R. (2001). Getting the most out of college: Students speaking their mind. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Milem, J. and Berger, J. (1997). A modified model of student persistence: Exploring the relationship between Astin's involvement theory and Tinto's student attrition theory. Journal of College Student Development, 38, 387-400. Rubin, A. and Babbie, ER (2008). Research methods for social work. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/coleTerenzini, PT, Pascarella, ET and Blimling, GS (1996) Students' out-of-class experiences and their influence on learning and cognitive development: ALiterature Review.Journal of College Student Development.37 ( 2), pp.149–162.Trowler, V. (2010) “Review of the literature on student engagement",