Do not “apply now”. Start your application, do your interviews, and turn it in before the deadline. Schools don’t read applications until after the due date so turning your app in early, especially if it’s less polished/comprehensive, is zero advantage.
Don’t tell people your bad grades “aren’t your fault” rather explain “I’ve struggled this semester because I didn’t have access to a working laptop at the beginning of school. Now I do and I am working hard to make up my work and raise my grades.”
You need to apply to more than just the “top schools.”