you know... I don't really have an answer right now... but following your line of questions...

In the old days mages went to the convent and then the Mithran Cloisters... before becoming full mages. Now, Tortall has a University that rivals Carthaks... so do the mages in training go straight there? or to the convent then there? or same as old and when you 'graduate' you go to the university... if you want??

any clues??

*waves to Rika*