Incoming College Junior with no summer 27 internship lined up.. What do you recommend I do?

Hi everyone, I’m an incoming junior at a semi-target school trying to break into investment banking in NYC immediately after graduation. I realized relatively late that I’m much more interested in deal work and transaction execution than traditional asset management, so I started IB-specific recruiting later than I should have. As of mid-August, most Summer 2027 large-bank IB processes seem to be closed. I’m still looking at the remaining opportunities—Houston energy IB, boutiques, lower-middle-market PE, and transaction-adjacent internships—but I’m concerned that Houston would make it harder to recruit for NYC full-time roles. I’m considering extending graduation by one semester if it would give me a realistic shot at recruiting for Summer 2028 IB and ultimately landing in NYC right after school. What would you prioritize at this point: cold-emailing NYC boutiques, technical preparation, networking, or pursuing the best available finance internship regardless of location? And does delaying graduation make sense in this situation? I know I started late and am looking for candid, practical advice—not reassurance.