I was with you right up to the point you said swing trading is better then scalping, then I got off the train fast! I don't know how long you been swing trading, but I can tell you right now the market is too volatile to swing trade, Nothing is as it was 3 years ago or longer. The only way you can swing trade this market is if you have a large amount of money to move around the board. You ether take a positions in the morning and get out at the end of the trading day or scalp. When I first got into trading I make a good living swing trading, now I wouldn't swing trade on a sim account with paper money. The HFT have learn how to go after hedge funds and swing trader's account. don't thing they are going after intro day traders only anymore, that's old news. the big money now is hitting hedge funds and swing trading stops just after or before the market opens. IMO
Ya scalping is appropriate for a newbie...
Excellent way to learn.