What would be more helpful in getting into a good college?

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm a sophomore in high school I am a pretty good student, except my grades in my foreign language class are terrible.
It's not required that I continue my language this year, but if I want to get an advanced diploma, I have to finish this year.
So my question is, would it better for me to get bad grades in my Italian class but get the Advanced diploma with a so-so GPA, or to drop Italian, get a regular diploma and a good GPA?</p>

2

<p>Many colleges require 3-4 years of a foreign language. Even colleges that don’t require that typically require you to take 2 years of a foreign language in college, and those courses are harder than are high school courses.</p>

<p>My advice is to take the foreign language and do whatever you need to do to earn a good grade. That could include getting tutoring.</p>

3

<p>Most colleges require two years of a foreign language in high school and many of those recommend three. Some require three, and a few recommend 4.</p>

<p>[Foreign</a> Language Requirement - Learn About Foreign Language Requirements for College Admissions](<a href=“http://collegeapps.about.com/od/theartofgettingaccepted/a/ForeignLanguage.htm]Foreign”>Foreign Language Requirements for College Admissions)</p>

<p>I’m not familiar with the concept of an “advanced diploma”, so I don’t know how it compares to a “regular diploma”. What are “terrible” grades? Would it be possible for you to switch to second year Spanish? I am told the languages are largely interchangeable (hubby knows Spanish speakers who speak Spanish with Italian speakers speaking Italian all the time). </p>

<p>My daughter is taking her first year of Italian in college after 3 years of Spanish in high school and has remarked that the text book is horribly disorganized. I have to think if there were a better text they’d be using it…so maybe that’s a widespread problem?</p>

4

<p>Keep Italian, unless there is another language there that would probably help you, but if not, buy and use Rosetta Stone. It costs a bit, but it’ll get you through almost any language possible.</p>