There is one scholarship at IU that can accelerate your IU application timeline. It is very very selective. https://wellsscholars.indiana.edu
If you are in-state for Indiana you get nominated by your school. You can’t apply for it. IU calls these nominees and invites them to apply for Wells. I think there are also some feeder schools in other states that nominate directly.
But If you are OOS (and not at one of those identified nominating schools) then you apply to IU while concurrently filling out the Wells app. Admissions will review your info and may recommend you to the Wells committee for consideration, but only if you have all your materials in super early so that have time to review.
The deadlines are described at the link, but in order to get your recs and essays together you would want to be getting your materials submitted to IU Admissions in mid-late September I believe. Then Admissions considers you in time to add you to the pool of semi-finalists announced in early October.
Since it is hard to win this OOS, and since most Indiana residents are nominated by their high school it is probably fair for IU to have such an early deadline. But those unaware could easily miss it….
I don’t want to mislead anyone as it was 3 years ago my child did this (as an OOS) and details may have changed. But the advice is that if you want to try for Wells Scholar (again, VERY selective) your deadline is MUCH earlier than it may look. The good news it ail probably be your first college acceptance as legit candidates for Wells will almost surely be admitted to IU. It’s nice to have one under your belt by late Sep…
Most colleges have a full-tuition scholarship and program for the top applicants. This is Indiana’s version, equivalent to say the AB Duke Scholar at Duke University, It comes with a variety of cool opportunities and benefits. Read more at the link.