Was lazy; now lost. Help plan my future?

Hi everyone. I'm entering my final year of [target course] at [UK target school] this September. In an ideal world, I would've known about IB before university, applied to Spring Weeks, converted the SW or applied for Summer programme with the SW on the CV and would be doing the SA now to be joining summer 2024 as a FT Analyst.

However, I missed all the above. My CV has work experience from 2019 (!) in Accounting departments, and a couple Analyst roles at university IB groups (no modelling; think MergerSight). Any Spring Weeks I applied for I was rejected from (very, very late) and any SA I applied to for '23, the same (had an academic mess-up in summer '22 meaning I was very shaky coming into the new academic year). Excuses aside, I was also lazy. But through it I remained interested in financial markets, business news and what IB involved. Spoke to many Analysts and realised it was definitely something I was interested in, but all too late.

Silver lining: I steered my academics back on track (after almost having to repeat the year) and am predicted a low 1:1 or high 2:1 at the cost of an internship. Fast-forward to today and I have basically no relevant professional experiences of merit (SW, SA, WEX) but am closely tracking openings for IB (and related) fields. Particularly, SA openings (as I am genuinely considering Finance Masters at European/ UK target grad. 2025) but some grads schemes too. However, having been rejected from some mid- to large-cap firms already has me a little panicked.

Keep in mind I know my technicals (BIWS; R&P) and Excel (WSP) to a degree sufficient for interviews. Yet to perfect online tests. I want to maximise my chances of getting into IB and see a few potential paths ahead for this summer, which is my main reason for posting here today:

1. Email as many alumni MDs as possible. How do I go about doing this? Desperate undertone? Deserving stance?
2. Email other alumni (Analysts; ADs; VPs; Directors) for a good connection to hiring at MMs
3. Continue applying for SA? Grad schemes? Off-cycles? With no relevant professional exp.???
4. Smash the GMAT, continue higher studies, and restart the SW, SA process
5. Stop thinking about IB, delete all the technical and behavioural guides from my PC and cancel subscription to FT

Of course these streams are not mutually exclusive (bar 5.) but it would be great to hear peoples' opinions on what I should be prioritising at this stage given my story. Perhaps I'm just not fit for IB and that's okay, but would love to know what you guys think is the best way to secure IB work given my background. Happy to answer more questions; my first post so do not flame any logistical mishaps. London advice preferred!