The solution to not over stressing and having free time is to not take an AP class. The solution is not to take an AP class that you don't like just because it may be easier than other AP classes.

"What I'm hearing is someone doesn't want to greatly increase their understanding of the world." Not really, since I found out yesterday that wanting to do that causes scheduling conflicts.

And the moment you found out it wasn't viable you decided you wanted to take a blow off course that just happened to have AP in the title (at least that seemed to be the implication). I mean, you asked us what would be good to replace AP Econ, and if you want something to fulfill the role it would take is AP Bio or AP Physics C, both will probably be as useful as Econ in college. However since I know AP Physics C would probably bankrupt your time, I suggest AP Bio.

Though, I do express sympathy for you due to the fact that understanding Macroeconomics would probably be very helpful in Political Science.

AP Physics C would take more time than AP Bio? When I took AP Bio, I spent hours every week reading and taking notes from the textbook. I did an independent study of AP Physics C in about two months and got a 5 on the test.

@PW: In my experience AP Physics (without Calc) was hell to do and took up quite a bit of time (though it was surprisingly a lot easier in college). Though my school was few and far between on AP Courses.

Biology had more material, but it was much easier than Physics C (which is discontinued after last year, sorry). Physics C at my school was both parts, mechanics and electricty&magnetism, so while mechanics was incredibly easy e&m wasn't especially since the teacher couldn't teach and didn't even tell us about some of the material.

Biology may have taken more time (hard to say), but it was orders of magnitude less frustrating. Even with a good teacher, E&M is as hard as chemistry. Though it didn't help that I had mostly good AP teachers and a bad one for this subject.

Never mind. Seems without calc is just a lot harder on the score distribution. Physics C (whether mech or E&M) should be easier. This is all based on the score distribution from last year.

The Physics C test is actually fairly difficult, they just curve it more.

I took Physics B at the same time as Biology and probably spent twice as much time on Biology. Physics B was conceptually difficult at the beginning but got easier as I got more comfortable manipulating equations. Biology just kept cramming in more and more material.

You don't know me at all and I don't generally participate in the forums, but your question piqued my interest. Two suggestions, probably contradictory:
1. I don't entirely understand your reason for preferring an AP course, but if you have a pretty good idea where you are likely to end up for college, take a few minutes to research how that University will treat the various different AP tests. Not all APs are created equal - some might be worth more units than the other, and it isn't necessarily universal. Paradoxically, it can often be more to your advantage to take an AP class far from your chosen area of study, because you are more likely to fulfill general ed requirements in college with an AP course, as opposed to introductory requirements for applying to a major. Again, varies a lot between universities and departments, so worth checking out.
2. If you're just looking for something that's less work and/or interesting, think about AP Art History. I didn't take AP Art History but I did take a very limited art history class in high school. It was probably my worst class in all of high school and I did the minimal work possible to get a passing grade, but despite that managed to learn enough that it really improved my ability to appreciate art in adulthood. Many years later I still remember things I studied, can go to a famous museum and recognize many of the pieces, etc. Totally useless academically but a useful class for personal enrichment.

Word, I took two art history classes in college for gen ed requirements and actually loved them. I can actually appreciate the stuff at the Prado now. (Well, not really. I dislike most Spanish art).

Art history is interesting, though I'm not sure the AP class lived up to AP standards. AP puts so much time into its APUSH and Euro curriculum, and art history couldn't quite compare. I took an online class which was absolutely awful, since they couldn't trust me to take tests. So instead of reading the book and learning a lot, I had to do all this busy work and submit my worksheets online. 5th grade all over again. The textbook was interesting, but I often found myself skimming it to complete the work instead of actually sitting and reading it for hours like my normal classes. So I would recommend AP Art History, but I wouldn't recommend taking the class online unless you can find a better solution than I did.

Thank you, Brankl and CNote. Your input is greatly appreciated, and it fits very well with the line of thinking I was hoping to get.
"I can actually appreciate the stuff at the Prado now." Oh?

They put me in Environmental Sciene since Art History would have had ANOTHER schedule conflict.
My counselor: "That's what happens when you take so many AP courses!"
Me: "Fuck you!" (Not really.)

Environmental science is cool and good. Be glad you're taking such an important subject - whose importance is set only to grow

I base all my educational decisions on the Thucydides "cool and good" rubric.

That's because you're cool and good

econ > euro

but i agree with abge/semck, the ap titles everywhere sound nice but are just another way to keep you running the rat race early and often. not a thing wrong with electing to take fewer than the maximum number of courses

Yeah, they only give me college credit and help me go through college faster so that it costs less. Worthless. I'll just take Econ in college. I have very personal reasons for preferring Euro.

You want to go to Europe to save us from poverty and teach us how to eat with a fork?

Uhh, whatever floats your boat.

No the teacher is an old friend of my and his families, and the class itself might not have had enough kids if it weren't for us (but mostly Prado)

I knew it!

Actually, mostly someone else.

European history will teach you more true things though. Econ 101 is just capitalist propaganda Lol

Not...necessarily...

The anarcho-capitalist who teaches it says part of the course is to build up the merits of communism, so...

@Thucy: To know your enemy is to beat your enemy..

I implied before that the easiest way to bring down capitalism would be through capitalist means. A capitalist society is relatively easy to predict and steer.