Recent Non-Target Grad, Ops position or try for Boutique internship?
Background: Non-Target Finance December Grad with a ~3.2 GPA. My goal is focused on becoming an Investment Banking analyst. My experience consists of a life-insurance internship and a semester in the University Student Investments Fund. I know that my GPA and lack of an IB internship limits me from pursuing BB banks, so I have only been looking at regional boutiques. However, there's a very small selection in this state.
My school has weak OCR in terms of IB, but I interviewed with a F500 company in an entry-level pricing role that I potentially expect an offer from. I have also interviewed with commercial banks for credit analyst roles that would begin in June. Lately, I have been doing cold call walk-ins to a few boutique PE/IB firms in the area. I plan on contacting/ walking into some Asset Management boutiques over the next few weeks to introduce myself and get my resume in front of eyes.
I received an offer for an Ops position with a custodian bank in Kansas City, but I have hesitations based on low salary and concern that breaking out of the BO will be difficult. I'm not sure that a move from the BO to the FO is possible at such a large firm, especially for an entry-level position. The lack of major IBD offices in KC compared to markets like Chicago, Houston, Dallas, is also reason to believe I could be right back in my current position.
Should I take the Ops role for a while as I try to network? Save up and move to a major city like Chicago? Or hold off and keep trying for an unpaid internship with a boutique investment bank or asset management firm over the next few months? Maybe credit analyst or F500 and then move to a 1st year IB program?
I'm aware of the steep uphill battle I face in trying to break into investment banking, but my interest and drive to achieve this goal have not waned yet. I have also considered studying for the GMAT and going for an MSF (i.e. Villanova/BC/Vandy). But, having at least some IB experience would make that route easier as opposed to having none at all, and I'm not interested in going back to school for a while.
tl;dr: Not sure whether to go for boutique internship, BO position or other route.