What can I do to learn the most about the market?

One word: JUNK.

Actually, several words: Very expensive junk sold by vendors, NOT traders, to complete newbies and retired people.

 

Disagree. Those who are saying about getting in screen time are on the right trail.

 

go camping

 

My response will sound unorthodox but it is completely sincere.

Go to Mirrusfutures or Amp Futures and get the demo version of Ninja Trader with Zenfire.

- Learn the basic features of the software.
- Accumulate tens of thousands of hours watching market in realtime and/or tick replay
- Working with multiple time frames at the same time.
- Do not waste your time with indicators. Stick to price, lines and volume.
- Play with the simulator
- Keep a personal journal

Just to give you an idea, this process should take an absolute minimum of a few years, some need more time.

There are no short cuts and most if not all trading books are for the most part, useless. Most authors can not trade consistently well, that's why they write books.

Write your own (your journal).

Good luck.

NN

 

I would like to know what direct access broker provides s&p quotes. My last one did not (www.cobratrading.com)

 

IB? either way you will have to pay $$ for a futures data feed

 

i was in the same boat as you..

i started trading mid december last year (mid freshman year). It actually really distracted me from my schoolwork because I was doing A LOT more work with the market than i was with school. But, it has really payed off and I have really improved my trading since then. I recommend you learn as much as you can right now since it's the summer. Read books, constantly watch the market and get a feeling for how everything works.

hope that helps..