<p>I’m just guessing here, but perhaps “not direct” means that they won’t just flat out tell you when you have your head up your a$$ . . . but will approach your misconception more diplomatically.</p>
<p>[This</a> post](<a href=“Accepted Student Days visit--one parent's impression - #9 by dadx3 - Carleton College - College Confidential Forums”>Accepted Student Days visit--one parent's impression - #9 by dadx3 - Carleton College - College Confidential Forums) from @dadx in another Carleton thread describes Minnesotans as having an “aversion to confrontation.” So if you say something in class that’s obviously wrong, people are going to be polite (and “indirect”) in trying to point out your error.</p>
<p>@Custos - I wouldn’t worry in the slightest about a Carleton education not being challenging, especially in physics! Carleton’s physics department is known to be quite strong.</p>