ANU or UNSW for Bach of Science + friend issue

[arewehuman]

So I've been on atarnotes for a while, but I'm not sure if my friends know of my other account so I made a new one just for this.
Rightio so...
I have been accepted into both ANU and UNSW for a Bachelor of Science.
I will have to move regardless of which uni to go to so distance doesn't bother me.
But really the thing that is bothering me is this - I have always looked forward to uni as it will give me the chance to have a fresh start. New friends, new interests, new me. Most of my friends are headed up Canberra way and I know two of them will be in some of the same classes/lectures due to interests in similar courses. Now, I like my friends but I've always seen them as just school friends because other than being the "academic ones" I have different interests to them and want to begin friendships with other people rather than just stay in our group (which is what they really want to do). However, I don't want to completely cut off our friendship as they are fun sometimes. Besides, the specific people I may be in the same classes with are extremely frustrating classmates (don't listen to teacher, hence ask me questions about every single thing) and are the most clingy and non-sociable group members.
However, if I go to UNSW, I wont have this issue as not too many people from my school go up Sydney way.

SO the big question is: How easy would it be to distance myself from these people? I'm not one for confrontations/fights and would like to keep a casual friendship.
And the next big question is: Which of these unis are superior for science?

[PhoenixxFire]

There are parts of your questions that I can't really answer so hopefully someone else can give you some advice regarding that.

I think initially your friends would probably be a bit clingy, however with so many new people around you, I wouldn't be surprised if you end up drifting apart anyway. Are you planning to live on campus? If so, could you organise your accommodation to be in a different building to them?

I don't really have any specific advice for you except to say that you shouldn't choose the uni you want to go to based on whether they'll be there - you should choose based on which uni you want to go to.

Keep in mind that you are currently 18(ish) so over the next few years whilst you're at uni it's likely that'll your personalities and/or behaviour will change a bit.

If you really don't want to be too confrontational then I'd suggest just putting as many barriers between you as possible (e.g. different accommodation etc.) and setting the standards right from the beginning - so you said that they'd be asking you questions because they weren't listening in class, don't offer to help them and if they ask for help tell them to pay attention in class/go to lectures/whatever it is they're not doing - but don't actively offer to help them, don't take any responsibility for their actions/inactions.

Having said that, if you don't have a preference for a particular uni than you may prefer to move away from them - just don't give up the uni you want to go to just because of them.

[arewehuman]

Are you planning to live on campus? If so, could you organise your accommodation to be in a different building to them?

Thank you for your answer!.
I think we will be living in the same accommodation (cheapest place), but I've already said no to living in a group room with them, so I guess that is a start.
I think just writing down everything helped me clear my head.
I think I might just be upfront about it if I'm in any of their classes and just tell them I want to branch out and make connections with different people.
As I said before, my interests are quite different to theirs, so the clubs/societies I may join will be something just for me.

edit: your sewing joke has me in stitches

[PhoenixxFire]

Thank you for your answer!.
I think we will be living in the same accommodation (cheapest place), but I've already said no to living in a group room with them, so I guess that is a start.
I think just writing down everything helped me clear my head.
I think I might just be upfront about it if I'm in any of their classes and just tell them I want to branch out and make connections with different people.
As I said before, my interests are quite different to theirs, so the clubs/societies I may join will be something just for me.

Awesome! I'm assuming you're referring to ANU given that's where you said most of your friends are going. Not sure about all of the accommodation options, but at the places I visited (campus accommodation, not unilodge) they're split into floors with approx 30 people and they try and put a mix of people at different stages of their degree in each floor so it's possible you won't end up near them even if you are in the same building.

edit: your sewing joke has me in stitches

I see what you did there