subpar experience, want to work in DFW area, how?

Since I grew up in the DFW area and would prefer to stay here, I would like to ask, how can I break into an analyst role in the area?

I got accepted to SMU but could not attend due to cost, and ended up attending UTD on a full-ride, a decision I kind of regretted after seeing what people on this forum were saying about how terrible of a school UTD is. I got an internship here at a small REPE shop and worked with the middle office team (risk). I also did an internship before that at a small-size company(~10-15M revenue) in corporate finance, I was also president of a finance club at UTD. I heard that firms here are quite selective and hire mostly from UT and SMU. I will graduate in December this year but I feel like I will not find a job with decent exit ops in the area. I was suggested by a friend to try getting an analyst role in NYC and come back in a few years since I would be more competitive for an associate job, instead of trying to find an analyst role here. I do want to save up money to put down on a house while living with my parents in Dallas, and that is impossible if I go to New York and not be able to save any money. OR, I came up with another possible plan, which involves me going for my MSF and trying to get an analyst role in Houston (where MSF grads typically go from what I can tell), and then moving back to Dallas as an associate. I have relatives in Houston who I could live with for free. 



TLDR:

Now what I am essentially asking is, since I realistically can't an analyst role in DFW with decent exit ops with my current subpar experience, should I try the NYC IB analyst -> associate in DFW route, or go for an MSF at UT or SMU? 

 

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