Having a degree in itself is a crock ... it won't make you a better pilot. However, there's a lot to be said for doing something else other than commercial pilot training for those first 3 or 4 years after leaving school. Reason being, that the attrition rate amongst freshly qualified 18 year old CPL holders is a LOT higher than amongst the older guys. It's a fact that a teenage CPL holder (and particularly one that looks young) will struggle to get employed, particularly in the instructing or air taxi sides of the industry that involve a lot of up close and personal contact with the punters. Like it or not it creates a negative impression on a fair percentage of the customers.