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]
(..) She had those same marks. She kept rubbing them in court. He's right. She did do that a lot. This woman was about years old. She was making a tremendous effort to look . For her first public appearance. Heavy make-up. Dyed hair. Brand-new clothes that should have been worn by a younger woman. (..)1957 12 Angry Men