I want to take them because I think they will be impressive to colleges, but I don’t want to stress. Are they hard and time-consuming?
First off, you shouldn’t take a class just because it’s impressive to colleges; you should at least have some interest in, or else you’re wasting your time on things you don’t like to do.
That being said, I took AP Seminar last year, and am taking AP Research this year, and I really enjoy the classes. It comes down to what you’re trying to get out of the class and how much work you’re willing to put in. If you enjoy discussions, analyzing works, and researching your own topics of interests, I think you’ll enjoy the class. It’s also good for those who like presenting or simply want to get better at presenting.
Don’t take it if you’re going to procrastinate on the work, not put in full effort, or neglect for your other (admittedly a bit more relevant) APs and classes. It will be a bit of work at times, but if you manage your time well, and don’t leave everything for the last minute, it shouldn’t be too hard of a class.
Let me know if you have any more questions about the classes. 