BC Omits Legacy Data From Common Data Set

By eliza Hernandez Projects Editor

Like many of its peer institutions, Boston College considers “legacy status” in first-year admissions, according to Grant Gosselin, director of undergraduate admission.

But, BC is the only comparatively ranked college in the

Greater Boston area to omit its consideration of alumni relations—whether students have parents who attended the college—in its 2021–2022 Common Data Set.

“The use of legacy admissions, when practiced [responsibly] and as a part of a larger recruitment strategy, contributes to Boston College’s success in enrolling a student body from a wide range of backgrounds and talents,” Gosselin said in an email to The Heights

The Common Data Set (CDS) is a collaborative document that compiles standardized data from participating higher education institutions concerning their demographics, student life, expenses, and admissions. According to the CDS website, every institution can choose what to include in its CDS.

“Each of the higher education surveys conducted by the participating publishers incorporates items from the CDS as well as unique items proprietary to each publisher,” the website reads.

“Consequently the publishers’ surveys differ in that they utilize varying numbers of items from the CDS.”

While Harvard University, Tufts University, Wellesley College, Brandeis University, and the Berklee School of Music all revealed in the CDS that they consider alumni relations, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Northeastern University reported they do not.

See Legacy, A2