Columbia University is one of the most prestigious schools in the United States in one of the most beloved and even mythic cities. New York City is iconic even before you consider plopping an Ivy League campus in the midst of Manhattan. A few minutes of walking takes students to relaxation in Central Park and a few minute-long train ride brings the same students to their internships on Wall Street. Columbia students benefit from both the social and career resources of New York, and the university is known as a feeder for top-tier financial, consulting, and tech companies. The first-year acceptance rate for the Class of 2030 only 4.23%.

You haven’t even finished your first semester of college (or maybe you haven’t arrived yet) and the thought has already crossed your mind: Should I try to transfer?

Columbia University, comprised of the undergraduate colleges Columbia College and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, received nearly 60,000 applications for the Class of 2029 and accepted only 2,946, or about 5% between both Early Decision and Regular Decision application rounds. When applying to Columbia, you absolutely need to approach the process with a clear strategy. In creating a strategy, it’s also important to know what has been going on at Columbia recently, as the university is in a bit of an era of adjustment and, they hope, recalibration.