g8erbait

I have been looking into a few of the MS Mathematical Finance degrees at a few of the top universities because after I graduate college I would like to work as a trader. However, I question whether a successful trader actually must know all of the in depth math that is a requirement for these programs. I might be off on this, but it seems more like the trader must understand how to apply and interpret the models to every day trading rather than actually develop them. It is much easier to do the former than the latter. Many of the graduates of these programs go on to become traders but I wonder whether it is actually necessary to have such a rigorous math background. I have been planning all along to enroll in a Masters of Science in Finance program which is much less quantitative than a mathematical finance degree. I took Calculus 1-3 in high school and a few higher level Statistics classes in college but nothing more so I am clearly not mathematically challenged. I am majoring in accounting with plans to do a MSF degree; I enjoy accounting and am doing really well so I have all intentions of sticking with it but I would like to become a trader one day.

So, my question is whether or not I would need more math than Calculus 3 to become a successful trader and if an MSF degree would prepare me adequately?