I'm a PS3 healer, and I have to say that Macros on the Crossbar are a huge help in what I do. There's a thread in this forum on healing macros, and I especially suggest using the set from the very first post in there... put 'em on the four first buttons of the crossbar, the easiest ones for you to get to, whichever those are for you, and your healing speed and proficiency will get much better, much faster. I went from limping along, barely able to keep up with the action, to getting compliments from people when I manage to keep a whole party up after the agro situation goes to hell.

As for WHM v. Scholar, CNJ will have you healing in the early dungeons, which is a natural switchover to WHM; contrariwise, if you level ACN to SCH, you go from DPS to heals, which I don't feel is as natural a progression. As always, YMMV, so try 'em both... you're not in any hurry, right?