WillCoombe,
I will try to answer you on a basis of what i would do if i was in your position.
I would consider the pros and con's:
If you go to university it will help you get a job, inside and outside of aviation, generally more money outside of aviation with a degree. If you go to university its only 3-4years you will be only 21 ish, you can if the market allows apply for sponsorship. The cost of university will cost in the region of lets say £20k by the time you finish. You may even be able to find a job straight from uni and build your ratings, or even university sponsorship from the likes of the RAF and join there uni air squadron.
If you go to the likes of OATS you will have to pay 60k + if you gain first time passes, high repayments when you finish, a qualification that is good for one industry, real possibilities are there for employment but you would have to be very lucky at that age, without sounding ageist, you would have no real life experience to draw on.
So if i was you right now i would be looking at Uni, perhaps something thats in the field of aviation, there are courses, maybe the RAF and work out over the course of the coming years if flying is still what you want. Get a good base of qualifications before you embark on the ATPL route, its expensive, frustrating and your competing with a lot of people for one job all the time when you have qualified.
I hope this helps, its not intentional to put you off, its a very difficult industry in many ways, i took my quals in my early 30's i dont regret it one bit, but i have had a lot of support and more importantly i had saved the money so my heartache is reduced to the size of my bank balance or lack of size i should say.
Happy flying
