free research vs paid STEM summer (junior year, already have ISEF)

so i'm trying to figure out what to do next summer. i already did ISEF as a junior (finalist, second author on a published paper from my uni research), and my mom's pretty clear we can't afford another expensive program. which honestly is fine because i've been spoiled with opportunities here in atlanta. my options are basically: (1) keep going with my professor at the university on a new project, no pay but they said i could probably get another publication out of it, or (2) a paid STEM camp that looks prestigious on paper but i'd have to convince my mom it's worth the cost, and it's more of a 'experience' thing than actual research. i'm leaning toward staying with my professor because the work is real and i genuinely care about it, but i'm worried that admissions committees will think i'm just repeating myself or that i'm not 'well-rounded' enough without trying something new. my stats are honestly kind of mid compared to my ECs (1520 SAT, 3.95 UW GPA), so i feel like i need to keep stacking on the research side to compensate. is it weird to go back to the same lab, or should i force myself to try the paid program.