btw: if you can make it into the 2nd class then lvling is a helluva lot easier.... but if you go alchemist... you will have some difficulties initially, because they are just as weak as merchs when you start, best thing for alch is to immidiately create a humunc.
Best for bs is to go to orc, get job levels, and then get and axe/mace, get adren rush n that stuff, then go to the leaf cats, and train a bit, then go to tf.