Pupils choose school- or school chooses pupil?

[erisedstraeh2002]

No: HPFGUIDX 46039

Darla asked:

> So do you think it's possible for a wizard (Malfoy) to apply else 
> where, when the names are already picked and listed?

Now me:

In Ch. 4 of PS/SS, when Harry (finally) receives his Hogwarts 
acceptance letter, it says "We await your owl by no later than July 
31."  I always assumed that meant that the witch or wizard in receipt 
of such an acceptance letter was being asked to reply as to whether 
or not she/he was accepting this invitation (by July 31).  If this is 
correct, it implies that this invitation could be denied and the 
witch or wizard could attend a different institution of wizarding 
education.  Or of Muggle education - in Ch. 6 of CoS, Justin Finch-
Fletchley tells Harry that he decided to go to Hogwarts instead of to 
Eton.

~Phyllis
whose reply owl would have been overwhelmingly in the affirmative