So, I know you already hate collaborative projects. You are afraid that your partners will let you down and that you'll be left holding the bag for the class assignment.

But, the fact is that learning to work with people is one of the most significant skills you can develop. My job is 20% working by myself and 80% working and collaborating with others. And, you think: "I don't want to work with a team because my grade is on the line." However, in the workforce, you'll work with teams when your job is on the line. Also, learning to be a good team player is an essential skill. Because if you're not a good teammate, you can get fired.

Second, with all of the technological resources we have available to us, there's also no reason why you can't do group projects in the course. In fact, much of the work that I've done in publishing and research I've completed with collaborators who are on the other side of the country. We, too, work like you in various jobs with different work schedules and we use Google Docs, Facetime, Skype, and Facebook chat to make it work.

Finally, the state of Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board now mandates that we must add group projects to most of our courses in college--under the umbrella of teaching "teamwork." Most students at the end of the semester enjoy meeting other students in the class.

So, here are some suggestions for how you might work together:

Consider assigning a team leader. They follow up on project deadlines, check in on report progress, and make final decisions when there needs to be someone who says, "This is what we're going to do."
Trust your partners to do their parts. And, by inverse: Don't let your teammates down.
Use Google docs to write 1 document, w/ each student participating. I've used Google Docs to write many chapters with co-authors from around the country. It's amazing.
Use Google Hangouts to chat w/ each other in real time. Y'all are all over the state of Texas. You have to figure out a way to communicate without sitting in the same room. Google Hangouts, FaceTime, Chat. Use them.
Set deadlines for parts to be completed. If you're working in Google Docs, then you'll be able to see each others' progress on the sections. Then come together at, say, Sunday at 4:00 in time for revisions to proof, edit, and turn in.

That being said, you'll also be evaluating each other throughout this process. Work together. Be nice. Compromise. Have faith in each other.

Remember, conflict doesn't always mean dysfunction. You are very bright, articulate, goal-orientated, and passionate. That's what makes y'all so great and so frustrating!