The school 'makes every effort' [=the school does all that it can] 'to help' new students become adjusted to college life.
His novel's surprise ending is not really convincing, but we'll give him 'an A for effort'.
He wanted to contribute in some way to the 'war effort'. [=to the effort to win the war]
(..) Come on! Get up here. Get up. Get up here! Get up. Get up here. That's it. You can do it. Come on. Come on! Put some effort into it! Baby, there you are. I was worried about you. - You taIk to the cops? - OnIy to see what Ipkiss toId them. Bet you heIped him with the bank job. (..)1994 The Mask