So what's the deal with wizard schooling, NEWTS, and getting ahead jobwise?

[author_by_night]

I've noticed a lot of kerlfluffle over the fact that Harry became an Auror after not having technically finished Hogwarts. However, here's the thing - JKR has stated on her site that wizards and witches don't have to go.

Am I the only one who took it to mean that some parents teach magic on their own?

I always figured that an alternative NEWT was provided for those students, somewhere in the MInistry of Magic. Or that they can take a special exam for whatever career they may want to pursue, which might be what the NEWT involves anyway. (They do seem to already be picking out careers in book five.) Plus, there is no University for wizards, although some may choose to go to muggle universities. So why couldn't they just recieve a test? And I feel Harry learned enough through defeating Voldemort... heck, he might not even have had to take the NEWT, although I bet he still did. ;)

My other question is... I was thinking about Mary Sue fics, and the ones where Mary Sue comes to Hogwarts from America. And then a horrible thought came to me...

Is it canon?!

But seriously, I wonder how much wizarding schools do merge. I don't think it's common, but JKR did say they went abroad, and Draco was going to attend Durmstrang. We also know that Eloise, Seamus, Padma and Parvati were going to leave Hogwarts - would one of them have gone to Durmstrang or Beauxbatons?  Not to mention territories that still belong to other countries - do those kids go to the wizarding schools, or have their own little schools?

... and why I think up all these things at seven a.m., I do not know. But there you have it.

Thoughts?

Comments

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can also see Harry being accepted for defeating Voldemort and all. I mean, that's no small thing, and it'd be clear there was a lot of magic involved. He didn't just get lucky. Ron might have that same advantage, really. But I bet they were still administered NEWTS.

And yes, I always thought training was canon, though whether it's camps or just one-on-one training is unclear.

[trude.livejournal.com]

And yes, I always thought training was canon, though whether it's camps or just one-on-one training is unclear.
Probably one-on-one training, since they (according to McG again) only accepts students when someone who's good enough applies. Though I guess there is some kind of syllabus.

Anyway, I went to Bloomsbury's website to re-check what Rowling actually said and here it is:

Blodeuwedd: Hi jk, first of all thank you for all the books I have enjoyed each and every one of them could you tell us what professions Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Luna go on to have did the trio do their final year at school and take their newts?

J.K. Rowling: Thank you! I’ve already answered about Hermione. Kingsley became permanent Minister for Magic, and naturally he wanted Harry to head up his new Auror department. Harry did so (just because Voldemort was gone, it didn’t mean that there would not be other Dark witches and wizards in the coming years). Ron joined George at Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes, which became an enormous money-spinner... After a few years as a celebrated player for the Holyhead Harpies, Ginny retired to have her family and to become the Senior Quidditch correspondent at the Daily Prophet!

So she never actually says whether they went back to Hogwarts for year seven or not. (I don't think I've seen her answer a similar question somewhere else, but she might have done that, of course)