Architecture Background transitioning into finance/real estate - Need Advice

Hey everyone,

Looking for some guidance here.

Background:

• Currently 1 year into a top 5 Master of Architecture program
• Came in straight from architecture undergrad
• Realized I don’t want to do architecture long term — goal is finance / commercial real estate, maybe IB after future MBA
• No full time work experience, just architecture internships
• Might have a CRE internship lined up for next summer
• GPA 3.9, GMAT 98 percentile, planning CFA level 1 next year

Options I’m weighing:

1. Stay in M Arch → Graduate → Try for Assistant Project Manager / Owner’s Rep / CRE Analyst → MBA → IB or Real Estate Development
2. Drop out of M Arch next year → Enroll in an MSF program (Vanderbilt, UVA etc). Would likely have a finance internship before enrollment, but no full time finance experience. Goal would be corp fin, REIT, or CRE analyst (but risk of back office roles).
3. Drop out of M Arch next year → Do an MSRE / MSRED (Columbia, NYU, MIT). Safer bet for real estate finance / development, less flexible for IB.

What I want:

• Entry finance role (CRE analyst, REIT analyst, corp fin) after grad school that sets up a path into T15 MBA
• Post MBA: IB Associate or Development Associate

Questions:

• With no full time experience but one CRE internship, would graduating from a program like Vandy MSF still get me entry finance roles like CRE analyst, REIT analyst, or corp fin?
• Is MSRE the safer bet?
• Would it be possible to break into CRE roles (like investment sales analyst at a brokerage) if I continue with the M Arch?
• How bad does dropping out of a top M Arch look to employers and MBA adcoms?

Appreciate any blunt takes.