I would certainly recommend going to Uni. I was in your position this time last year. I thought that the RAF would prefer me young as well, so I discussed this with the AFCO, and they told me to tell the board in my end of OASC review that I would be interested in DE even though I was applying for a bursary. So that's what I did. Went off to uni last year, went to OASC while there, told them what the AFCO has told me to tell them. I was subsequently offered a bursary in GD(P)!!
Now at a UAS, flying (when das teutor is working), getting rat ar$ed and being paid, a little, now and then.
I would also recommend the OTC route, there's a couple of GDE guys I know who took that route. You get paid more, and probably end up being better prepared for part 2 of OASC than you would after being on a UAS. Also gives you a chance to focus fully on your first third of flying training when you graduate from IOT.
There's also loads of laydeeees at uni, forgot that part.
Good luck chap!!
TMA