RE megafund sophomore insights programs (Blackstone, Starwood, TPG) - how to approach these?

For Context I am a Rising sophomore at an emerging semi target, 3.7GPA , trying to end up in real estate credit. Right now I'm interning at a top 50 REPE credit/debt fund B-piece side, analyzing lots of deals on new issue pools, and I'm staying part time through the fall. Just signed with Starwood Property Trust for summer 2027, credit side again. Outside of work I hold two E-board roles at my school's real estate club.

Networking is decent but uneven. I know a few analysts and a principal at one of the megafund credit platforms, mostly through a fellowship and alumni intros, and I have scattered contacts at two others.

The thing I'm trying to learn about is sophomore insights programs. Blackstone's general and real estate specific ones opens this month and Starwood Capital and TPG both run real estate specific ones. I am curious how much these actually feed the summer analyst pipeline.

Also I am wondering where the weight sits on the application. I've heard the recorded video gets watched by investment professionals rather than HR, which would make delivery matter more than the written portion, but I don't know if that's true.

The one I'm least sure about is networking. At the sophomore level, does reaching out to analysts before you submit actually help, or does it come across as trying too hard? I'd rather know before I start emailing people.

And for anyone who did one of these, what separated the people who converted from the ones who didn't. Also happy to hear about any real estate specific programs I'm missing. 

Thanks all