Earning a college degree requires a standard measure of academic success. Institutionally, this measure is calculated in earned credits and cumulative grade point averages known together as satisfactory academic progress. This qualitative study explores the relationship of students' academic progress and their perceived sense of belonging after one semester of full-time study in a residential, four-year college. The sense of belonging, explored as a basic human need, is compared through the individual interviews of two cohorts of first-year college students, specifically students who finished the semester in good academic standing and students who completed the semester with an academic warning. Findings suggest ways institutions can support new students in the start to college that lead to academic success. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]