I would listen to your heart and take a gap year or even two if needed. College is a big commitment of time, energy, and money and you want to be ready for it. Clearly with your good grades and scores you will both benefit from and excel in college eventually, but 16 is indeed young and there is nothing wrong with taking a break to mature. And gap years don’t have to involve expensive travel or special programs (though it is great if your family can afford them) Getting a full or part time job and learning what the working world is like can be a great way of gaining a sense of what you want from life. I do happen to think you should go to college eventually, and I suspect you will come to that realization too. But not everyone is ready at the same time, and there is nothing wrong with that.