I think, for most people, college buys them more time to build foundation. You will probably still be partly supported by your parents, which can be good or bad, but is giving you more time to study the things you are being tought in college, the things you just want to study, and the things you encounter as a byproduct (like interesting people or hobbies). I think, that Leo says it's a blunder not to go to college, because most people who decide to skip it close their opportunities to support themselves financially and otherwise - they just take on a job and here they are, a lot of the free time they could have had to educate themselves is gone.
If you choose a major that is interesting to you for the subject itself, not a for the money or social credit it can give you, you will benefit from getting a broad view over a subject, which may transfer to all areas of life. Now, I think there are two possible approaches: I have studied physics, which is directly necessary for building my carrier. I am glad to have a broad background and stable base in my subject. Or, you could choose something that is actually complementary to your carrier. I imagine even one year of some good social science studies will transform your worldview. In general, I find that dwelling deep into more then one subject (and more then one subculture) in life is extremely beneficial.
I'm not saying you have to choose college. College could also hinder you by feeding you some paradigm you in fact do not want, although I think it's not that likely in your case. You say you already know what you want to do, and that is great (maybe you're even ahead of me despite being 10 years younger, so my advice is totally misplaced :)). I think the only danger you run into by starting right away is going full steam into this one direction just to find out it's not it and then having greater difficulty changing track. (If you look at Leo, he change his carrier not once but three times, right? It happens.) I think at your age it is extremely likely that your direction will still change, so I guess my conclusion is: study something general, work on something specific. Or maybe... just don't close your options, you know? Make an agreement with your mom that you'll work for a year now on whatever you see as your life pourpose now, and see how that feels. If you find yourself immersed in the specifics lossing the big picture? Go to college next year.
