Opportunities from SA in DCM

Hey everyone,

I'm a student at an Ivy target who is going to SA at GS/MS in DCM. Though this is a great opportunity, I don't think I would be interested in going FT for Capital Markets and would definitely prefer an M&A experience.

Aside from getting a return offer, what are some things that I should be doing to set myself up well for FT recruiting? I have a friend at an EB that I would definitely love to work for who has put me in contact with a couple of alumni at the firm who I plan on reaching out to. At this point, I'm not certain how competitive of a candidate I am for FT interviews so it'd be great if I could get some input on that. My goal would be an EB, but I would also definitely take a lower BB M&A or LevFin team. Should I begin reaching out to any of those individuals now?

Really appreciate any tips!