do you have any websites/ resources that I can read which covers the courses?
This one has some good material. Also try ExamsTutor, s-cool, and InQuizitor.
do you recommend pre-studying the course before the teacher goes through it in class?
I reccomend doing so to a small extent. Don't go too far, because what you may learn alone may be completely unrelated to the exams/coursework you'll sit - and it'll lead to problems down the line. If you're worried about doing so, then just leave it for now
would you advise to make friends with those who work hard and focus only on studying? but arent these people usually very competitive?
I'd suggest making friends as a whole! You won't be able to judge a person for being a "hard worker" until halfway into the year. Just make friends in your class with as many as possible and burn as few bridges as possible and when you need to work and revise with people outside of lessons you'll have people to work with.
The "hyper-competitive" are a minimal, if non-existant, lot. Really there's no real gain to be "the best" in a class or even a college, as the split in grades only takes place on a nationwide level. Really the ones who are hyper-competitive will keep to themselves, no matter what ability level they are. However I've never met more than one or two of them in college or school, so don't worry about that.
plus I have found that those who talk alot in class and goof around get more help from teachers... should I sit by these people or avoid them?
You won't really know as you sit down for the first time, and you'll usually get a blend of them wherever you sit. If having a couple of goofs keeps putting you off work and Teach isn't doing their job of keeping order, try asking outside of lessons to move somewhere else.
What is important to note is that at college level no one is truly a full-goof person, certainly not after January - those who can't take the pressure because they slacked all year often just drop out. So you shouldn't have problems with goof-offs in college, unlike in Secondary School.
[Blimey that was a lecture! Hope that answers a lot, and feel free to ask more. Same goes for anyone else!]