You are in a tough position. How does your brother feel about it?
The drive…well that’s subjective. I’d find driving 3.5 hours one way to be too much to keep doing often. Especially for something that might, at least at times, feel like more of an obligation than something you want to do. Then you also have to consider weather and traffic. Some places are easier for travel than others.
Is there a mega bus or train that goes from the college area to home?
Is there a different college closer to home that might make sense? If not, I think your answer is made for you.
if there is another college option, I’d consider it. If your parents were to get worse, do you imagine that you’d decide to leave the college and come home? If so, a closer option might be best to begin with.
One problem is that you will be wanting to go home to be helpful, so you have 8 hours of driving, then spending time helping…leaving little for homework that weekend. So even if you plan a once a month trip, projects and tests may affect how much you can do.