Well, many schools don’t offer AP Italian, so its lack of popularity is likely a function of lack of access more than lack of potential interest. My daughter is minoring in a language for which she did not take the AP exam because her school doesn’t offer it. Her school doesn’t offer Italian, either, but it is certainly possible there are students who have interest in the language.
A tuba player fulfills a needed role for the school; a student pursuing a minor in X does not, so it is not really the same thing.
Unfortunately, the current trend is when they can’t fill seats, they just cancel the classes and downsize the department. Some colleges have a language requirement and fill seats that way, but foreign language departments tend to be vulnerable to downsizing and consolidation and I don’t see that getting a potential new minor would change that or have any pull in that trajectory.
Exactly this. It is great that she wants to minor in Italian and has an interest in language and culture. Perhaps a personal statement or supplemental essay or some relevant ECs would add something positive and unique to her application. If it’s something meaningful to her and she wants to highlight it, she should definitely do so. It’s not a hook, but it is part of her story, which is what she should tell her in application.