Dear Christopher,
If you are indeed a beginner, I suggest exposing at box speed, bracketing and developing per the manufactuer's suggested times. Find the exposures that have densities you like to print and determine if those prints look good in the grade 2-3 range. If you need more contrast, a little more development and a little less exposure (bracket!) for your next roll. If you keep track of what you are doing, by roll 3 you will have consistent output.
As an illustrative experiment, purchase a couple of rolls of film with lots of available data. Expose and develop one at half the box speed (pull one stop) and the other at twice the box speed (push one stop). Print similar subjects from both on the same grade paper (or filter setting for VC paper) and compare them. Fooling around a bit like this can be great fun and very informative.
Neal Wydra