What are the pros and cons of deferring University to take a year off after you finish highschool?

If you’ve taken a year off could you please tell me how it went? What was good and bad about it?

If you went straight to college/university, please tell me how that went for you, goods and bads.

Some details about me and why I’m having trouble deciding:

Cons of University/Pros of deferral:
I’m a year younger for my grade so I’d be starting University at 17, turning 18. Most others will be at least 18, turning 19.

My second last year of highschool, I was doing great on my internal class marks but then when it came time for the external examinations I all but flunked out, in every subject. I was horrified and didn’t really recover, lost all motivation for school and was mostly scraping through for my last year, ending up with average external results and Australia wide score that they use for University entrance. I feel like I need a break to clear my head and have a chance to miss learning so that when I come back I’m really ready.

I have been wanting to travel for so long and I thought by taking a year off I could work for half of it and save up some money and then travel in the second half of the year, something I really really want to do, especially because I would love to head to the States and visit many of the lovely Jellies I’ve gotten to know on Fluther.

I didn’t get offered any scholarships so by taking a year off I can still hold on to my uni offer but then reapply for scholarships for another chance next year.

Pros of University/Cons of deferral:
I’ve been told it’s a different atmosphere to school, and maybe I would regain motivation in a different environment. I would have all my maths and science fresh in my head (I will be doing engineering) and get stuck into to it, which will mean it is over sooner and perhaps I can travel after.

I would be starting at the same time as most of my friends, perhaps even sharing some classes, so will still have support even though in a new and different environment.

Mum wants me to go straight to Uni.

I will definitely not be getting a scholarship this year if I haven’t got one by now.

So if you read through all of that, do you have any comments or recommendations for me? Anything that could help me decide?
Thanks.