Do your grades stink? Is the DIP happening?

Well, if you’re in middle school, high school, or college and your grades have dropped, and you want to know why—and what to do about it—this is for you. Not everyone cares about their grades, but if you do, I’m going to explain something called “the dip,” why your grades fall, and how you can deal with it.

What’s up, everybody? My name is Seth Perler. I’m an executive function coach, which means I work with struggling students to help them navigate school so they can have a great life.

So why do your grades struggle? I’m going to explain that, why it won’t fix itself, what the good news is, and what you can do about it. I’ll also touch on a few other factors you should be aware of.

If you’re a student who struggles with executive function—like I do—you’re not alone. I see the same pattern every single year with hundreds of students. It’s happening right now as I’m recording this in October.

Typically, it happens in the middle of the semester. You start off strong. You think the school year is going to go well. Everything feels good—for about the first two weeks.

Then things start to fall apart, but you don’t really notice it at first. It begins with one missing assignment, then another. You forget something here, something there. You intend to go back and fix it, but you don’t. Things get pushed to the back burner, and they start to pile up.

Meanwhile, your parents ask how school is going. You say, “It’s fine.” They ask, “Are you sure?” You insist you’ve got it under control. You say you’re studying, turning things in, staying on top of everything—but that’s not actually what’s happening.

Then the “dip” begins.

Missing work, incomplete assignments, late submissions, zeros, and test corrections all start to snowball. It becomes overwhelming, and it’s hard to figure out what to do next.

Usually, around six to eight weeks into the semester, everything becomes visible. Parents see a progress report, get an email from a teacher, or check grades—and suddenly they’re asking, “What’s going on?” The grades don’t make sense—maybe a mix of A’s and F’s, or a lot of missing work.

At this point, you’re deep in the dip. Your grades have taken a nosedive.

So what do you do? You spend the rest of the semester trying to dig yourself out of a hole. You’re dealing with makeup work, late assignments, and everything that piled up.

Some students, like I was, don’t deal with it at all—they just stay stuck. Others try to recover, spending weeks trying to catch up.

This continues until the last three weeks of the semester—what I call the “Hail Mary.”

The term comes from football: a last-second play to try to win the game. In school, it’s the last three weeks when you try to fix everything at once. But at that point, you’re not just dealing with old work—you’re also handling current assignments and final exams, papers, and projects.

A typical semester is about 18 weeks. So you have a strong start, a gradual decline, a long period of trying to recover, and then a final push at the end.

Some students are smart enough to pull it off in those last weeks—they raise their grades just enough. But this can be deceptive. It creates the illusion that the same pattern will work again next semester, and the cycle repeats as school gets more complex.

So how do you break the dip pattern?

First, understand this: it will not fix itself. Just watching this video won’t change anything. You have to take action.

The good news is—you can change this. There are three key things you need to work on.

First is your mindset. Your brain will resist. You’ll think, “I don’t feel like it,” “This is stupid,” “I’ll do it later.” That leads to procrastination and excuses. You need to notice those thoughts and choose not to follow them every time.

Second, you need systems. Success in school—and in life—requires structure. That means using planners, calendars, getting organized, being accountable, and asking for help when you need it. You have to build systems that support you.

Third, you need better habits and routines. Right now, your habits might be working against you—choosing easier or more fun things over important tasks. But habits can be changed over time.

There are also external factors to consider. Some teachers or school systems can be rigid and don’t always understand how your brain works. You may have strengths that aren’t measured by tests.

That’s why it’s important to speak up. Ask for help. Go to teachers, counselors, parents, tutors, or coaches and say, “I’m struggling. I need help.” Be persistent and be willing to receive support.

You are capable. You have strengths, talents, and gifts—even if they aren’t always recognized in school. It’s not about whether you’re smart—it’s about how you’re smart.

If something isn’t working, advocate for yourself. Speak your truth and ask for what you need.

I hope this explanation of “the dip” was helpful.

My name is Seth Perler. If you like what I’m doing, give it a thumbs up, leave a comment, and subscribe. I’d love to hear from you—have you experienced the dip? What patterns have you noticed? Is there anything you’d add to help others?

And most importantly, beyond all of this—take time today to connect with the people who matter in your life. That’s what matters most.

Take care.