<p>Limabeans…D also discovered this past semester (her 1st) how much effect a TA can have on your grade. She had a TA for a psych lab. (Psych was supposed to be her “easy” class FWIW.) Anyway, she had A+'s on all her tests in the lecture (taught by professor), but the TA gave her a B and B+ on her papers. The papers, at her school, are not returned but rather the grades are merely posted via the Internet. She was completely stressed out because she knew she had to make a 97 on her final to pull an A-; she got a 100. At her school, A-'s are worth 3.7 and A’s and A+'s are both worth 4.0 (something we didn’t bother to ask about when reviewing schools – not that it really matters, though). It does make me wonder, however, if all colleges weight grades the same. I know high schools certainly don’t. </p>
<p>OP…That first semester is a huge adjustment for MANY kids (speaking from my own experience). Your S will most likely improve next semester; if not, then I might start having frank discussions. I would suggest giving him space right now, though. It’s tough and scary for some kids to all of a sudden be on their own, and part of that adjustment might mean lower grades their first semester in effort to “figure it all out”. Good luck!</p>