Coverage Placement Process Ruining Dreams

Looking for genuine advice here because I’m in such a low spot and at the end of the rope here. Incoming FT generalist at BB. Placement is in the summer but from the folks I’ve spoken with (when I was there over the summer) is that this BB is probably the most political bank out there in terms of university/placement. Ex: sponsors completely harvard/nyu. Consumer all Yale. To the point where I can’t even sniff a response from juniors in any of the groups to get on the phone. Not 1 email back. My non target has 1 other person in the entire investment bank despite being inside top 30 school, and she's in product. Just not a place we’ve sent kids unfortunately. 

In the summer I was in product. My team at the end of the summer said to me you should go do coverage because we think that’s a better fit for you and clearly something you want to do. However, given the placement is so political and I’ve been told there isn’t a prayer, it makes me feel very defeated. I worked so so so hard to land this bank. Placement was bad the first time let alone the second. It's like I came all this way just to hold the silver medal. Everyone knows product pay is less, exit ops are away hiding inside Epstein's golden temple, and the outlook is really not great. I want to take on the challenge of coverage because I can do it. I cannot tell you how easy product groups were. Sorry that makes me seem like a jerk. Just speaking from my experience.

There is only 1 product group I would consider and it’s not in ECM or DCM so use your imagination as to what it might be. However, it’s such a niche product there’s no room to transition to coverage later down the line or even ECM/DCM. 

My question to you: at what point in your career is coverage not an option? After the analyst years in product it’s pretty much quiet to move to coverage, no? You would be an associate with no modeling experience. No better than an MBA associate who at least is starting there. 

Right now my plan is that, if I get put in product, I would sit there for 6-7 months and try to move internally or to similar bank to do coverage. I’ve been told not to “downgrade” to a MM like BNP, RJ, etc just to do coverage if I get thrown in product but idk if this is sound. I gave up everything to land at this top BB but the final step to coverage seems far. If anyone has advise on bridging this gap or how to finally get into coverage at a similar firm (especially given the headcount reduction) I would appreciate it.