Why does everyone treat high schoolers differently?

I’m not sure if this has been covered yet, but I’ve been wondering about this tendency people have to voluntarily subordinate themselves—essentially placing themselves in a lower tier because they assume someone else is more intelligent. It’s like they stop trying to hold onto their own convictions or become too terrified to push back. I have two specific scenarios playing out in my life. The first involves older generations; for context, I’m just hitting my late teens. They look at me differently the moment I mention I'm heading to an elite prep school, instantly labeling me as some kind of intellectual prodigy who exists on a plane above my peers.
Then there’s the second scenario: when I tell someone my age that I’ll be attending a top-tier academy, they seem to regress, acting even more foolish than before, which I find fascinating. In those moments, once they’ve convinced themselves that they sit at a lower intellectual level than I do, I could practically lead them anywhere; I could convince them that nine is actually less than seven—a banal example, obviously, but that’s the point. I could spout absolute nonsense, and they would nod along, refusing to even take a second to verify the truth. I’m curious about the root cause here. Is it driven by some deep-seated prejudice regarding prep school students and the prestige attached to them? I’m not saying I dislike having this advantage, but I’d love to understand the psychological mechanics behind why people surrender their agency like this.

High schools are just one piece of the puzzle.
It’s really about those deep-seated biases people have toward formal education—you know, that whole thing where everyone assumes "educated" people automatically possess superior intellect or higher moral ground.

High school kids can be pretty full of themselves sometimes.
Yeah, prep schools are tough, but there's nothing special about them compared to other high schools. You find smart people everywhere. 🤷
I don't really get why you think your classmates would look at you as "superior" just because they didn't go to a prep school.😕
And I guess older people just look at you more favorably because they're old.😁🤷

As for what Edward Murphy4 said—that education isn't the same thing as being highly intelligent—I don't know, maybe she's partly right, maybe not. To me, an education just proves you have grit, a desire to learn, discipline, and the ability to actually finish something.

hiddenhawk3 said:High school kids can be pretty full of themselves sometimes.
Yeah, prep schools are tough, but there's nothing special about them compared to other high schools. You find smart people everywhere. 🤷
I don't really get why you think your classmates would look at you as "superior" just because they didn't go to a prep school.😕
And I guess older people just look at you more favorably because they're old.😁🤷

As for what Edward Murphy4 said—that education isn't the same thing as being highly intelligent—I don't know, maybe she's partly right, maybe not. To me, an education just proves you have grit, a desire to learn, discipline, and the ability to actually finish something.

It’s like we fall into this trap of arrogance because others are convinced from day one that we're smarter, using all that specialized jargon to create this illusion that everyone else is just voluntarily stepping down to our level instead of actually being on par with us.
That’s exactly why I asked the question in the first place; the logic just isn't there.

This whole discussion is actually pretty interesting because it takes me back to when I decided to drop out of college. To be honest, part of the reason was just that I was hungry for actual knowledge, but all I felt like I was getting from those lecture halls was
pure brainwashing. So, instead, I just went rogue and started teaching myself everything I could possibly find—I’ve actually gone through about 1,500 books on my own over the years
. But man, looking back at it now, there’s definitely a part of me that regrets not just sticking it out and getting that degree. I know I’d probably have a lot more money in the bank right now, and honestly, it would be nice to hang out with
people who can actually hold a deep conversation or dive into complex topics. Because of how things went, I ended up just being a high school grad, and I've always dealt with that nagging prejudice that I’m "not smart enough"
. Looking back, maybe I should have just met in the middle and finished my studies, so if you're sitting there on the fence, I’d say maybe consider making that compromise
.

nimblerider21 said:This whole discussion is actually pretty interesting because it takes me back to when I decided to drop out of college. To be honest, part of the reason was just that I was hungry for actual knowledge, but all I felt like I was getting from those lecture halls was
pure brainwashing. So, instead, I just went rogue and started teaching myself everything I could possibly find—I’ve actually gone through about 1,500 books on my own over the years
. But man, looking back at it now, there’s definitely a part of me that regrets not just sticking it out and getting that degree. I know I’d probably have a lot more money in the bank right now, and honestly, it would be nice to hang out with
people who can actually hold a deep conversation or dive into complex topics. Because of how things went, I ended up just being a high school grad, and I've always dealt with that nagging prejudice that I’m "not smart enough"
. Looking back, maybe I should have just met in the middle and finished my studies, so if you're sitting there on the fence, I’d say maybe consider making that compromise
.

🙄

Next time try studying instead of just reading. 😁
Yeah, it seems like people with degrees are the ones who know how to talk about anything. 🙄

A high school student in a preparatory academy is essentially someone who has made a conscious choice—perhaps even a slightly questionable one—to enroll in a school that offers zero immediate leverage in the job market, all for the sake of setting themselves up for higher education later.

Despite all those tired forum clichés about how brilliant restaurant servers can be, statistically speaking, it’s a fair assumption that a prep school grad is more educated than their peers from vocational programs.

I honestly don't have the energy—or the patience, really—to deal with anyone who might try to jump down my throat over the eternal debate regarding "that piece of paper that doesn't mean anything." Or, for those who might struggle to distinguish between actual education and raw intelligence, they might start attacking my premise (which, for the record, I didn't actually claim—but hey, whatever 😁) by suggesting I'm equating the two.

Bryan Jackson98 said:I’m not sure if this has been covered yet, but I’ve been wondering about this tendency people have to voluntarily subordinate themselves—essentially placing themselves in a lower tier because they assume someone else is more intelligent. It’s like they stop trying to hold onto their own convictions or become too terrified to push back. I have two specific scenarios playing out in my life. The first involves older generations; for context, I’m just hitting my late teens. They look at me differently the moment I mention I'm heading to an elite prep school, instantly labeling me as some kind of intellectual prodigy who exists on a plane above my peers.
Then there’s the second scenario: when I tell someone my age that I’ll be attending a top-tier academy, they seem to regress, acting even more foolish than before, which I find fascinating. In those moments, once they’ve convinced themselves that they sit at a lower intellectual level than I do, I could practically lead them anywhere; I could convince them that nine is actually less than seven—a banal example, obviously, but that’s the point. I could spout absolute nonsense, and they would nod along, refusing to even take a second to verify the truth. I’m curious about the root cause here. Is it driven by some deep-seated prejudice regarding prep school students and the prestige attached to them? I’m not saying I dislike having this advantage, but I’d love to understand the psychological mechanics behind why people surrender their agency like this.

Are you sure you aren't just being a little full of yourself?

Maybe we should just toss this over to the teenagers... you know, let the kids from those vocational high schools tell us how they actually view the prep school crowd!🤣

It all comes down to confidence, really. You hear people peddling this nonsense like, "High school is tough, not everyone can hack it," implying that if you didn't go the prep school route, you're somehow less capable or missed out on the "real" knowledge. Personally, I don't give a damn about what degree someone holds or what kind of school they attended. I’ve seen straight-A students choose to go into trade schools because they actually enjoy the work, not because they aren't smart enough for academics. It's simple: those kids are mastering specific, high-level skills while the prep school crowd just skims the surface of a dozen different subjects. To me, there’s no such thing as a "smart" person or a "dumb" person. It’s all about how you carry yourself and how you view your own education. Some people just don't have the drive to sit behind a desk all day, or maybe they struggle to focus. Does that make them any less important? Not even close. In fact, they'll usually outclass you in something else. 🙂 These prejudices are just a byproduct of how people were raised.

It really all boils down to the individual... at the end of the day, someone who lacks sense will still lack it, regardless of what kind of degree they're holding. I was actually chatting with a guy the other day—he works a pretty blue-collar, unglamorous job—but honestly, his intelligence was just off the charts... it was palpable.
As for me, I went through a prep school, and if I'm being completely honest, my only real feeling about it is a bit of regret... I don't look back on it with any sense of pride, not even a little bit. It’s more of a lingering "what if"—I really should have opted for something much more constructive.

Jeffrey Hill39 said:It really all boils down to the individual... at the end of the day, someone who lacks sense will still lack it, regardless of what kind of degree they're holding. I was actually chatting with a guy the other day—he works a pretty blue-collar, unglamorous job—but honestly, his intelligence was just off the charts... it was palpable.
As for me, I went through a prep school, and if I'm being completely honest, my only real feeling about it is a bit of regret... I don't look back on it with any sense of pride, not even a little bit. It’s more of a lingering "what if"—I really should have opted for something much more constructive.

I’m just calling it like I see it, and while everyone is entitled to their own perspective, I only speak up because of how people react whenever I mention I’m heading off to prep school.

gentlesailor25 said:Maybe we should just toss this over to the teenagers... you know, let the kids from those vocational high schools tell us how they actually view the prep school crowd!🤣

That way, I’ll only ever catch their side of the story, never the actual reasoning behind it.

fadedbison282 said:It all comes down to confidence, really. You hear people peddling this nonsense like, "High school is tough, not everyone can hack it," implying that if you didn't go the prep school route, you're somehow less capable or missed out on the "real" knowledge. Personally, I don't give a damn about what degree someone holds or what kind of school they attended. I’ve seen straight-A students choose to go into trade schools because they actually enjoy the work, not because they aren't smart enough for academics. It's simple: those kids are mastering specific, high-level skills while the prep school crowd just skims the surface of a dozen different subjects. To me, there’s no such thing as a "smart" person or a "dumb" person. It’s all about how you carry yourself and how you view your own education. Some people just don't have the drive to sit behind a desk all day, or maybe they struggle to focus. Does that make them any less important? Not even close. In fact, they'll usually outclass you in something else. 🙂 These prejudices are just a byproduct of how people were raised.

It’s exactly that—they convince themselves they're operating on some lower intellectual plane, looking down at everyone else from a position of perceived inferiority rather than just treating people like equals.

I have no idea what kind of social circles you’ve been running in to feel that way. In all my years going through high school—and I’ve moved in plenty of different groups—I never once met someone suffering from an inferiority complex just because of where they went to school.

And let’s be real: prep schools aren't exactly breeding grounds for geniuses. Honestly, where you spent your teenage years says absolutely nothing about your brainpower.

To be blunt, I think you’re overthinking this. Maybe the issue is actually you? You sound pretty green. You might want to take a hard look at this supposed "intellectual superiority" you claim to have over vocational students. 😁

vividmarlin11 said:I have no idea what kind of social circles you’ve been running in to feel that way. In all my years going through high school—and I’ve moved in plenty of different groups—I never once met someone suffering from an inferiority complex just because of where they went to school.

And let’s be real: prep schools aren't exactly breeding grounds for geniuses. Honestly, where you spent your teenage years says absolutely nothing about your brainpower.

To be blunt, I think you’re overthinking this. Maybe the issue is actually you? You sound pretty green. You might want to take a hard look at this supposed "intellectual superiority" you claim to have over vocational students. 😁

Or is it just the rural parts of the Midwest?

fadedbison282 said:It all comes down to confidence, really. You hear people peddling this nonsense like, "High school is tough, not everyone can hack it," implying that if you didn't go the prep school route, you're somehow less capable or missed out on the "real" knowledge. Personally, I don't give a damn about what degree someone holds or what kind of school they attended. I’ve seen straight-A students choose to go into trade schools because they actually enjoy the work, not because they aren't smart enough for academics. It's simple: those kids are mastering specific, high-level skills while the prep school crowd just skims the surface of a dozen different subjects. To me, there’s no such thing as a "smart" person or a "dumb" person. It’s all about how you carry yourself and how you view your own education. Some people just don't have the drive to sit behind a desk all day, or maybe they struggle to focus. Does that make them any less important? Not even close. In fact, they'll usually outclass you in something else. 🙂 These prejudices are just a byproduct of how people were raised.

Yeah, sure. That high schooler who's just memorizing stuff to get an A 😍or whatever else to look good is pretty shallow and doesn't actually know anything. 😍

Bryan Jackson98 said:Or is it just the rural parts of the Midwest?

After reading this, I honestly wonder if you even finished high school.🤦.

Bryan Jackson98 said:I’m not sure if this has been covered yet, but I’ve been wondering about this tendency people have to voluntarily subordinate themselves—essentially placing themselves in a lower tier because they assume someone else is more intelligent. It’s like they stop trying to hold onto their own convictions or become too terrified to push back. I have two specific scenarios playing out in my life. The first involves older generations; for context, I’m just hitting my late teens. They look at me differently the moment I mention I'm heading to an elite prep school, instantly labeling me as some kind of intellectual prodigy who exists on a plane above my peers.
Then there’s the second scenario: when I tell someone my age that I’ll be attending a top-tier academy, they seem to regress, acting even more foolish than before, which I find fascinating. In those moments, once they’ve convinced themselves that they sit at a lower intellectual level than I do, I could practically lead them anywhere; I could convince them that nine is actually less than seven—a banal example, obviously, but that’s the point. I could spout absolute nonsense, and they would nod along, refusing to even take a second to verify the truth. I’m curious about the root cause here. Is it driven by some deep-seated prejudice regarding prep school students and the prestige attached to them? I’m not saying I dislike having this advantage, but I’d love to understand the psychological mechanics behind why people surrender their agency like this.

They won't bother because they know you're talking nonsense. And it happens because they know you're talking nonsense, so they don't give any weight to what you say.

From my own experience back in general high school, I noticed that prep schools don't necessarily attract the brightest minds—they mostly attract the "grinds." For instance, about half of my classmates could pull an A in history, yet they couldn't tell you the significance of Desert Storm or even basic facts regarding WW2.
It’s actually pretty fascinating to me... I know plenty of people from vocational business schools who possess more practical knowledge than my entire high school class combined.

I mean, I don't know... maybe I'm just overthinking things—which, let's be honest, is basically my default setting at this point—but there’s just something about the way everyone seems to be looking at this from one specific angle. It feels a bit narrow, doesn't it? Like we're all staring at one pixel on a massive screen and ignoring the rest of the picture. I guess what I'm trying to say is that there might be more to the story than what's being served up on a silver platter. Just a thought, though. Probably just me being cynical. kaže:
Maybe we should just toss this over to Teenagers magazine or something—you know, let those kids from the vocational schools give us their take on how they actually see high schoolers. It might be interesting, I guess.🤣

I went ahead and put it up. 😁

I’ve gotta admit, I spent my entire high school years under this massive delusion that prep school kids were basically gods.
I didn't hang out with much of anyone back then, so I had no clue what the actual vibe was like on the ground.

Then I finally hit college and realized they’re just regular people—flawed, messy, and totally unremarkable. 😁
Sure, there are always outliers. You'll find geniuses in both elite private academies and local trade schools, but generally speaking, being a "prep kid" isn't some magical status worth worshiping.

If someone is a complete jerk, they're going to be a jerk whether they graduated from an Ivy League feeder school or a vocational program. 😬