There seems to be some odd motivation going into theses answers at times. Lucifer is right on the money.
If you have the opportunity to go to uni and you don't go you're a fool. You will never be 18 again.
I went to uni and did the UAS thing and uni was the best thing that ever happened to me.
I embarrased my self, learnt a lot about myself and others and did it all before my potential employers got to know me. Had I gone straight for the guns at your age I'd probably have struggled with the maturity demanded by todays profession.
The year out is a waste of time, you have so much free time at uni that you can become a free-fall bonsai tantric underwater basket weaving instructor between leccies and have 19-25 weeks (uni dependant) a year to travel the world.
Don't be in a rush to earn cash it really won't make you that happy. The friends and relationships fromed at uni are for life and far surpass those I have ever come across except in the service.
Those chaps whinging about seniority and worrying about their kids schools need to get a life. When your start salary is more than 10k over the avg family in the country and you can afford to do mostly what you want and when you want I'd rather have the knowledge that should I get amoebic retinal failure in a few months and lose my med cat that I have my B.Sc to take into another industry.
Out of date maybe but I can do an MBA if I feel the need in a year. I wouldnt want to be a non grad in today's environment for love or money.
