Your life as a rat will be a simple one, and you will not be able to enjoy the usual things most kids going off to regular college enjoy. You are allowed a fan and a basic alarm clock (no radio) after Hell week - nothing that plugs in is allowed during Hell week.
A big-ticket gift would be a laptop, of course.
Smaller gift ideas would be a box of food items such as protein bars or shakes, single servings of applesauce, beef jerky, trail mix, etc.
You will need more compression shorts than seems logical, but you will use them. And the socks....more socks than even what the list requires - and the good ones like Thorlo add up fast! Shorts and socks might seem like a lame gift but you'll be very grateful to have them. You might ask for gift cards to sporting goods store for those items.
Gift cards to Walmart (the go-to place in Lexington!) would be nice, and of course cash comes in handy for every grad. You will eventually be given the privilege of going into town and will want some pocket money.
After Breakout life becomes better and you're able to have more "things". A big "want" from my rat is a Kuerig after Breakout.
Congrats on your appointment to VMI and your scholarship. You've chosen the uncommon path, and it's a great one!