Rising Junior Recruiting for Summer 2027 REPE Asset Management Internships | Looking for Advice

Hey everyone,

I'm a rising junior interested in pursuing a career in REPE, ideally on the asset management side. This summer, I'm interning at a regional bank underwriting both consumer and commercial loans. While it isn't directly real estate-focused, I've gained experience evaluating credit risk, analyzing financials, and underwriting loans.

I attend a non-target school, but it has a very strong alumni network. Over the summer, I've had a lot of coffee chats with alumni across REPE, acquisitions, asset management, development, and lending, which has helped me get a much clearer picture of the industry and where I see myself long term.

My goal is to land a Summer 2027 internship that will position me well for full-time recruiting, ideally in NYC or Chicago. I've built some basic modeling skills but improving them before given a case study during an interview is my main goal right now.

One thing I've found challenging is that REPE recruiting seems much less structured and public than investment banking recruiting.

For those currently in REPE or real estate investing:

• What types of Summer 2027 internships should I be targeting to maximize my chances of breaking into REPE asset management?
• What technical skills should I prioritize over the next 6-12 months (ARGUS, cash flow modeling, waterfalls, etc.)?
• For someone from a non-target school, what has been the most effective recruiting strategy?
• When do firms typically begin looking for Summer 2027 interns?
• Are there particular entry points (lending, brokerage, acquisitions, development, AM) that tend to lead most naturally into REPE AM?

Would appreciate any advice from people who've gone through the process. Thanks in advance.