Transfer to Columbia from CUNY

[Yrefaze]

Hello everyone, I know that there are a lot of topics concerning this subject but I wanted to have more details about that. I’m french (sorry for my bad English) and I will enter the CUNY for my first year but I’m already looking for a future transfer to Columbia. I saw that I have to get a (very) good GPA but what else? I read on other topics that they were looking for exceptional people so do I have to get involve in an association or something like this? And finally is it better to get my Associate degree before a transfer or not? The fact that I’m french will change something (but I have the permanent visa)? Thank you and sorry if a similar topic I didn’t see is almost the same