So about a month ago I had my interview for Columbia college in my locality. Throughout the 10-12 interviews I’ve had for universities, none of my interviewers had any information about me as is said on websites and etc. However, both my uncle and father attended Columbia for engineering and business and for some reason my interviewer knew I had family that attended Columbia. As we began the interview he mentioned, “oh so I see that you’ve had family here.” How was he aware that I had family that previously attended Columbia if they do not have access to any information?
To make it clear, the interviewer DOESN’T have access to your application (your grades, activities, etc) but they do have access to some information like if you are a legacy or not, if you have any siblings, your major, etc (minor information like that).
I’m a Columbia interviewer and the ARC (Columbia’s interview system) does not include any information about an applicant’s legacy status or siblings. It only provides interviewers with contact information, SEAS or CC, and potential majors. Some interviewers choose only to interview for their CC or SEAS and some prefer students with the same academic interests. Alumni interviewers are not admissions officers, our job is to be an ambassador for Columbia so other factors have no bearing on the interview.
BTW - Legacy status at Columbia is only given to children of alumni from CC or SEAS, not the graduate schools. The only way an interviewer might know there is a connection is if the regional alumni chair just happens to know your relatives and notified the interviewer.