Greetings BitCoinTalk!

I'm quite new to BTC in general, but I am interested in the possibilities of decentralized currency.

My questions are as follows:

1. I haven't downloaded a wallet application yet. Once the wallet application is installed, am I required to download the entire block chain in order to deposit BTC into my wallet?

2. If so, how large of a download would this block chain be?

3. Would a (somewhat) slow internet connection hinder my future BTC purchase experience?

Thanks for any and all help you might be able to give me. I look forward to conversing with more of you all in the future! Thanks again!

-Klamrisk