Is practice of Vedanta a prelude to practice of Buddhism? Prince Siddharta was schooled in Vedanta, which was the predominant philosophy prevailing in India 2500 yrs ago. Majority of Buddhists today seem to have ignored the study of Vedanta and dived into the deep end of mastering the Tripitaka first, especially Abhidhamma. 'The Path of Purification' - Visuddhimagga - has referred to the learning of the 'Three Vedas.' (vide Chapter XII.44 of Bhikkhu Nanamoli's English translation). Given the fact that not many yogis become Arahants today, is it possible that Buddhists need to master the fundamentals in Vedanta first, as the Buddha himself would surely have done in his youth?



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What might the answer be, if this question asked about "the Vedas" instead of "Vedanta"?
If you read the Vedanta page on Wikipedia, you will find this info:


  Vedanta or Uttara Mīmāṃsā is one of the six (āstika) schools of Hindu
  philosophy.
  
  Some of the better known sub-traditions of Vedanta include:
  
  
  Advaita Darshan - established by Adi Shankara (788–820 CE)
  Vishishtadvaita Darshan - established by Ramanujacharya (1017–1137 CE)
  Dvaita Darshan - established by Madhvacharya (1238–1317 CE)
  Bhedabhed (or Dvaitadvait) Darshan - established by Nimbarkacharya (c. 7th century CE)
  Shuddhadvait Darshan - established by Vallabhacharya (1479–1531 CE)
  Achintyabhedabhed Darshan - established by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1534 CE)
  


On the other hand, if you read the Wikipedia page on the Buddha:


  The times of Gautama's birth and death are uncertain. Most historians
  in the early 20th century dated his lifetime as c. 563 BCE to 483 BCE.
  More recently his death is dated later, between 411 and 400 BCE, while
  at a symposium on this question held in 1988, the majority of those
  who presented definite opinions gave dates within 20 years either side
  of 400 BCE for the Buddha's death. These alternative chronologies,
  however, have not been accepted by all historians.


So, Vedanta came after the Buddha, and I suspect that Advaita Vedanta appeared as a philosophical response to Buddhism.

So, the Buddha could not have studied Vedanta, and this question is moot.