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]
(..) three feet from our faces. And on the side of the shell is painted one word... Stark. We were trapped two days. Every effort to save us, every shift in the bricks, I think, "this will set if off." We wait for two days for Tony Stark to kill us. I know what they are. We will make it right. (..)2015 Avengers: Age of Ultron