Pathway into Buyout PE from Junior Summer Recruiting

I need some general input on my life plan (5ish years) and since I go to a semi-target I find that most students who go into IB think I’m planning/looking too far ahead, so wanted some input from people actually in the industry.

I’m incoming at a NY BB for my sophomore summer and deep into recruiting for a junior SA (24) position. I’ve had interviews and am waiting to hear/accelerate a few processes. My potential outcomes are EB M&A, a better BB, or trying to go buyside immediately. I’m in processes for private credit at a UMM but am unsure if that would be something I should pursue or if that’s an offer worth pursuing and leveraging.

The point of this is that I wanted to get input in the most viable way to break into corporate buyout PE in the long term. I have the options above, as well as recruiting PE full time in the cycle next year. Seeing as I’m looking for a rebrand for MBA (preferably M7) that’s also in the cards. Is there any path I should focus on to achieve this or is it mostly what I can make of it at this point?

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