MSRED - > Distressed Shops

Hey y'all

I was accepted to a top MSRED program (MIT/Columbia/Cornell). I have a few years of work experience at a boutique development shop doing some pretty unusual/interesting developments in the US and Japan. I recently read Moyer after a friend recommended it and I'm extremely interested in looking at a career in distressed Debt. I have some awesome experience in development, but lack deep financial skills. The MSRED program gives me access to B school at the university and a number of really solid electives relevant to distressed debt plus that rigorous financial and valuation knowledge of RE which I need, and of course a strong network. So, is it possible for me to use the MSRED to move to a distressed shop in a major city? I'm specifically interested in distressed RE, and NPL on Real Assets, but I think my skills would also be useful for any distressed business with significant RE assets.

Let's say that it is not worth it, what's my best move for getting into distressed? Work my network and look for an opening? Or is there a better way to establish my interest and improve my skills first?