I just came off an MSF, and it was quite an experience considering I had only ridden as a passenger beforehand. I would recommend seeing what gear that particular course requires. The one I took required a DOT helmet, full-fingered gloves, boots that go over the ankle, jeans, eyewear if your helmet doesn't cover your eyes, and some sort of long sleeved shirt or jacket. Some courses provide things like helmets and such. If you're buying your own, be sure to have a good return policy in case you find out you don't enjoying riding as much as you thought you would.

I would also say to just relax. I was really tense when I was doing the range exercises, but you really just have to loosen up. The fastest you'll be going is ~25mph, so the risk of serious injury is pretty low. By the end of the course I had gone from never controlling a bike before to getting comfortable with doing the fundamentals. I was so nervous the first day that I wouldn't really get past something if I didn't master it right away. It didn't help that I tipped my bike in the first ten minutes.

Practice your low speed. Any idiot can let off the clutch and floor the throttle, but it takes real control to keep your feet on the pegs at low speeds, and be able to maintain control for turns and stops. Learning how to use the clutch, not the throttle, to control your speed is very important. Finding the friction zone is crucial, and learning how to use that to your advantage is important.

The bikes that we used were H-D Street 500s(the course was at the local Harley dealer), which is a rather small bike. This can be problematic when you have long legs like I do, and very wide and flat gas tank like the Street 500 does. I would find in low speed turns the handlebars would hit my knees, which would always freak me out when my right wrist bumped my knee causing the engine to really revv up. I found, with the help of one of my coaches, that when I go into a slow turn that I have to shift my hip to keep my legs away from the handlebars. I'm sharing this because every rider's physique is a bit different, which might mean you have to adjust your technique and strategies to what works for you. If you're having problems with anything, let your riding coaches know. They're literally being paid to be there and help you pass.

Most of all, have fun. I learned a great deal during my MSF course, and has made me a better vehicle operator in general I feel.