Think I'd try and get a couple of 2950's if you could. I had access to them at work for my studies, and they did almost everything I needed. Only time they didn't start to work out for me was working on BCMSN course and wanting to do some L3 type stuff.
3500xl would work too, but if you are looking to go beyond the CCNA, I wouldn't consider them too much. The other courses referenced either a 2950 or a 3550 (not an XL switch).
Just my $.02