Nikon D7100 for A beginner?

So I want my first DSLR and I was looking at d7100 which I can afford with a 18-105mm VR lens. I did a photography course for 2 years at my school, I tried the entry level camera d3200 for a week. (borrowed from my friends) I found it easy and I really wanted better programmers so I could be more in charge of the camera. I really like learning and willing to learn this camera inside and out as this money is coming out of my own hand of months and months of work. So my question is, is d7100 good for a beginner or will it be too much of a stepping stone?

Go for it. The way you phrase your question suggests to me that you will make good use of your investment.

The D7100 is an excellent semi-pro dSLR, however it is not really necessary to buy such an expensive camera as a beginner. It will NOT provide you with any better photos than you could using a Nikon D3300.

What it does do is give you access to older Nikkor AF lenses, so you can save a few pennies when adding lenses to your camera system

All dSLR cameras work the same, so the learning curve is no steeper than any other dSLR.

If you think that "better" cameras have more programmable features, you would be wrong. Once a person moves from using an entry level camera to one that is used by experienced photographers, you should be using less and less of the auto features and depending more upon what learn by attending classes, reading books, watching Youtube and attending workshops and seminars.

When you understand the fundamentals of photography, your images will get better and better

It's a fine camera for a beginner who has the drive to learn more about photography.
In the Auto or Program modes, it acts much like a point & shoot camera. However, to get the most from this sort of camera, you need to learn about the technical side of photography - ISO, aperture, shutter speed, and white balance. Once you master those, then you can enjoy what the camera body has to offer. Then, you can start learning about the artistic side. BTW, the D3200 can be used in manual mode also which means you have complete control of the camera settings. The D7100 makes certain adjustments easier to access, more control over various color biases, and it can auto focus AF lenses. As a beginner, expect to figure out how to use this camera over a 1 year period.

Since you have a good foundation in photography, I think you should go for the higher spec camera, the D7100. I think you would take advantage of its features. Speaking of that, I ran a comparison to see what advantages the D7100 has over the D3200.
http://snapsort.com/...ikon-D7100

It is only too much camera… If you aren't prepared for the 'learning curve'… And i'm going with AVDADDY here you seem to realise that you'll have to stick some effort in… I use the D7000 and D7100 both are nice cameras… Nikon are due to release a D9300 in the next couple of months it's the rumoured update/replacement for the D7100 (should be available just before Christmas)… I would either pick up a D7000 now and enjoy it, you won't be disappointed by a D7100 when you see the price dropping in the next couple of months you might have wished you had waited… I don't buy the latest and greatest models I like to wait until it has earned and proved itself to be a reliable tool.