Ethos

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The final step in designing a new school is creating a unique ethos. This step is optional, but it adds color to the school and makes it more interesting for the players.
An ethos also serves as a springboard for determining the personality of specialist characters. An ethos can be anything from a simple outline to a detailed profile. Following are some questions to consider when designing an ethos for a new school.
Do the specialists of the school adhere to any particular philosophy? Do they share any particular goals? Such philosophies and goals are often derived from the nature of the magic studied by the specialist. For instance, specialists from the school of metamorphics study spells dealing with change. Continual exposure to the transience of all things might lead transfigurists to be skeptical about the existence of absolutes—a transfigurist, then, might believe that concepts such as "right" and "wrong" are relative to specific situations.
Are evil-aligned characters more drawn to this school than good-aligned characters (or vice versa)? In most cases, wizards of all alignments can be specialists in any school, but a new school might discourage certain alignments and encourage others. Likewise, certain magical academies might accept students of specific alignments only.
If a school does not promote harm to any living creature, or promotes healing, safety, comfort, or compassion, then it probably excludes evil alignments. If it promotes cruelty or self-interest, the school probably excludes good alignments. If a school promotes no particular philosophy, it probably includes specialists of all alignments.
If a school advocates logical thinking and adherence to strict behavioral norms, and discourages excessive self-expression, it probably leans toward lawful alignments. If it encourages creative thinking, freedom of expression, and spontaneous actions, it leans toward chaotic alignments (this is particularly true if it also encourages defiance of written laws to achieve individual goals). If the school takes no particular position on the specialist's relationship with his culture and society, it probably includes lawful, neutral, and chaotic specialists. (The school of metamorphics takes no particular positions on these issues, therefore it is open to specialists of all alignments. Note that this attitude about alignments is also consistent with the school's general philosophy of skepticism about absolutes described above.)
Are any particular personality types drawn to the study of this school? Do they tend to share any common eccentricities? Common likes or dislikes? Would anything about your new school tend to discourage certain types of people or attract others? The school of metamorphics attracts students with a natural interest in the world around them. Since its spells change one thing into another, most students will be interested in how things work and how things are put together—in short, metamorphics students are analytical, curious, and creative.
What's the relationship of the specialist to other members of his party? Usually, the type of spells available to a specialist will suggest his role in the campaign. If the specialist has a lot of offensive spells, he will likely be on the front lines when the party goes to battle. A specialist with a lot of defensive or reconnaissance spells might be a good spy or investigator. Although we haven't yet devised many spells for our transfigurists, it looks like neither offensive nor defensive spells will predominate. Therefore, it seems likely that a transfigurist will leave the bulk of the fighting to others in his party.
Do specialists of this school tend to have a lot of friends? Are they likely to have spouses and families? This depends on the specialist's philosophy, goals, and personality. Unless the specialist is extreme in one of these areas—for instance, if he is obsessive about the study of magic, or if his field is considered repulsive or frightening (such as the school of necromancy)— he is likely to have an average number of friends and an average chance at a successful marriage. (Since transfigurists have no extreme traits, we will assume that they have a fair number of friends and are as likely as anyone to marry and raise a family.)
Where do these specialists prefer to live? As mentioned previously, certain schools tend to attract certain types of people. If a school's specialists tend to be outgoing and affable, they probably prefer to live in an urban area. If they're brooding and anti-social, or if they're conducting potentially dangerous research, they probably live in an isolated area. Usually, a specific location won't suggest itself—specialists tend to live just about anywhere. We will make this the case with transfigurists.          
How do the specialists spend most of their time? Reclusive types will stay close to home, usually lost in research, reading, or writing. Curious types are more inclined to explore the world, eager to meet people and experience new situations. In most cases, there will not be obvious pastimes applicable to all specialists of a school. This will be the case with transfigurists. They spend some of their time doing research at home and a fair amount of time out in the world exploring and socializing.
How do the specialists typically earn a living? Common occupations for wizards include teaching, counseling, researching, and advising. However, the spells available to a particular specialist might suggest additional careers. The metamorphics spells do not suggest any particular occupation, so transfigurists probably pursue the common wizard occupations.