My observation has been that the kids that fall prey for the prestige trap, tend to come from families that push that mentality very hard. Often families with relatively successful parents, i.e white-collar professionals and the likes.<p>I think there's also an element of insecurity and lack of identity among those kids. They've been measured and held to high standards all their lives, and they have close and clear references of success. Maybe their parents, grand-parents, or other family members.<p>They get pushed to ace their school works, they get pushed to do stuff that pads their school applications and resumes. This seems to be even worse when your parents come from cultures where there are a handful few of "correct" careers to choose between.<p>These kids sacrifice a lot, so the obsession with clear-cut goals could be some rationalization or their sacrifices and lack of identity.<p>But then again, we're all driven by different things. Some set their mind at 17 to be retired by 30, and will do whatever it takes to accelerate that process.<p>Others may not need money at all (due to things like inheritance), but want to fit in with their peers - so chasing prestige becomes just another case of keeping up with the Joneses...if nothing else for the bragging rights.<p>With that said, in my later years I've realized that chasing prestige (for my own part) was nothing more than vanity, and a need for external validation.<p>But it turned out that I did not have passion for the things that were prestigious, and I felt miserable pouring all my focus and energy into something I did not care for.<p>In the end, I took a stand with myself, and figured out that it's better to be happy and create something I love, and create value for others (as well as myself) - and if success comes with it, then that's a bonus.<p>Not having a cloud of professional / career anxiety hanging over me is great.