If the overall GPA is strong, one weak semester usually does not require a proactive explanation unless the application asks about academic anomalies. Let the full record speak first.

An unsolicited explanation can draw more attention to a dip that the recruiter may not consider material. The exception is when the semester creates a misleading picture or the firm provides a place to explain circumstances.

If asked, keep the answer factual: what happened, how long it affected you, and what the later grades show. Avoid giving more personal detail than you are comfortable sharing.

Prepare a two-sentence explanation and move on. The strongest evidence is the academic performance before and after the difficult period. A concise, evidence-based explanation will usually sound stronger than a long defensive one.