David, a degree isn't compulsory, but it will sure help! The advice you got in the previous post is sound - university time is rarely a waste, whatever your final career, and the University Air Squadron scheme is an excellent way to get seriously good flying for free while enjoying a damn good social life. Don't dismiss it without having a good look first - the self-improver route is a hell of a lot harder, and the cadet entry schemes are few and far between. And both are a lot more expensive than Uni and the UAS!