She returned to New Mexico. enrolled at St. Josephs College and completed her undergraduate studies within 3 years while working as a local radio broadcaster. She was the first woman admitted to the University of New Mexico Law School but decided instead to pursue a career in social work. Raquel transferred to Northwestern University and completed her masters in social work at Loyola in Chicago. She began to work as a social worker in Chicagos famous Hull House and quickly went on to form her own Mexican American organization serving the local migrant population. It was during this time that she met Dr. Hyman "Hy" Frankel.