I'm in year 13 at the moment and applied (wrongly, I think) for mathematics this year, back in September. However I'm really put-off by how dissimilar a mathematics degree is to A-level maths, particularly the more abstract pure side of it. I realise now that I would be better suited to a course involving all applied maths, such as engineering or physics.
I'm studying both maths and further maths A-levels at the moment, and I absolutely love doing both, especially the core, further pure and mechanics units. I'm also doing A-level chemistry, which I find bearable and do pretty well at, but don't enjoy anywhere near as much as A-level maths. Having said that, do I sound like I'd enjoy chemical engineering? Everybody says that the course will be almost all applied maths, like everything from core/further pure/mechanics I assume, which is ideal for me. Would you say that this is definitely the case? Roughly what percentage of the course is maths (not just simple arithmetic but of A-level or higher standard), and what percentage isn't? Also, in what ways is the style of maths taught and used in chemical engineering similar/different to that of A-level maths & further maths?
Another thing is that I find it difficult to visualise how the maths you learn can be used in an engineering context. For example, could you give any specific cases in which matrices would be of benefit, or complex numbers, or calculus, and so on? On that note, do you learn more and more (new) mathematical methods year by year as you progress through the modules, i.e. does the maths go very far beyond what A-level further maths contains?
Thanks!