I'm drawing to the end of my flying career, and I have put 3 kids through Uni. If you are interested, here are some of my observations so far:
Uni is great fun, but dare I say it, not always completely practical. The legions of 'Media Studies', 'Sociology', 'Philosophy', 'Politics & Economics', 'Sports Sciences whatever' graduates will have greatly enjoyed themselves and had an all round good time, but won't particularly have equiped themselves to be valuable employees. Subjects have to be useful to others to make you attractive. By all means go to Uni if you want to, but.......
My experience in BA is that Uni cost the individuals 3+ years on the seniority scale that for some has meant delaying promotion 10 or 12 years (due to cyclical effects), and unfortunately restricted pension prospects for some- and the benefits are hard to identify apart from maybe personal satisfaction. In this context, I think Uni and flying are not mutually compatible. If you want to fly, and trust your money earning career to 6 monthly health checks, then Uni is a waste of valuable time. If you are determined to fly, get the degree later.
As for the fabled 'year out'-beware! All 3 of my children have done the trail to Thailand and the Antipodes. I find the 'education' possibilities limited, it seems to me it is largely a way of staving off the time a long term student has to get into a career market- the longer it goes on the harder it seems to be! IMO, a complete waste of time unless spent on something valuable and personnally rewarding rather than staying on a Vietnamese beach for 3 months and living like a peasant with a local family! You are probably too full of initiative to waste time like this, although it may sound superficially attractive.
That's how I see it! No arguments at me please. I'm 53 and I've had (and lived with) the experience!