Do you think GULC is 36K better than Vandy (so to speak)? Any thought?
Yes.
This is especially true if you want to eventually end up in China/Hong Kong. There are 2 big reasons you should choose GULC:
1) It's more prestigous than Vandy.
2) You will be in DC, blocks away from the white house. This gives you much more "international" opportunities (including internships while you're in law school) that you will not get at some small town in the middle of TN.
Living in DC for three years also allows you the opportunity to "network" to get that overseas job. I am almost positive that there are more international students and more "global" professors at GULC than at Vandy.
You got friends who would loan you some $$$$$ just like that?