I'm in the same position as you but just 2 years older. I left high school with the plan to go straight into pilot trianing but the economic downturn came and i would be stupid to have a huge debt with no job at the end. So after talks with my parents and lots of thinking on my part i had the grades in maths/physics/chemistry to study engineering at uni. During my last year of school, 2008/09 i applied to various unis and received offers from all of them but in the end i chose Aeronautical Engineering at Glasgow University. Im alf way through my first semester and it's a challenge and a half, just having a break from studying 2.5hrs fluid mechanics/analogue elctronics and my head is whizzing!
However, it's a challenge and i like it....it's your call but once (if) i graduate it will be 2013 so hopefully things will have imprived and then pilot training will become a more suitable option....only time will tell.