How to break into a hedge fund from a non-target

Hello! I am a current sophomore at a non-target. I was lucky enough to snag a spot at a reputable boutique this summer in one of their more exciting groups (very thankful and blessed; not bashing on IB in this post at all). After lots of introspection, I have decided that pursuing a work in a hedge fund makes the most sense for me (in terms of more room to prove my abilities, more quantitative focus, and more chill hours). I have started networking and cold-calling with the larger names in the industry, but perpetually feel as though I am running into walls.

My friends at HYPS do not worry about networking because they simply "wait until Optiver/Citadel/IMC come on campus to recruit" and hope for the best. I am not writing this post to complain about being at a non-target and that life is so unfair. I want to hear everyone's stories trying to recruit and what the best practices are.

-How important is networking? I have heard it has declined in significance as HF's pivot towards things like quantitative ability/raw intellect, but I do not know how to get my foot into the door.
-^Who should I be trying to network with in the HF's?
-^^How do I maintain relationships and how can I show that I am someone who is worth vouching for?
-To show my interest, is it shrewd or conceited to share trading journals from my own trading and models I have built to value securities?
-Are there any good resources/books I should be going through, beyond the guides and more well-known books?
-What can I do, on-campus (quant major, STEM clubs, STEM major, etc.), to better my chances of being competitive in these applicant pools?
-Is there a good way to spin my non-target status (i.e. work for everything I have/understand what being the underdog is like)?
-More generally, can you describe the ideal candidate for a prop trading firm/HF?

I apologize if my thought process is difficult to follow and if this comes off as ill-intentioned/ungrateful - that is not my goal at all. I am set on this and am willing to do anything to learn.