Check out
This Thread for some answers to your questions.
If you are keen on a career in aviation, at your age an idea might be to consider Yooni (if your highers are up to it) and spend a few years getting drunk and chasing women.
It pays to have a back up plan, to take into account the cyclical nature of the industry, and a degree would give you that extra fall back position.
Drop me a PM if you want to have a wee chat about it.
Note to mods, would it be an idea to make the
referred to thread a sticky?