  This article describes five common student misconceptions about succeeding in
college-level Physics courses: the miracle finish, the soft hearted professor,
an extension of high school, weak areas won't be tested, and passing is more
important than learning. These fantasies are unique to neither Physics nor
freshman, but the challenge of learning Physics brings more certain negative
consequences to students retaining these attitudes. Ascribing these student
misconceptions to freshmen acknowledges that they diminish with increasing
academic maturity.

Physics Education