<p>I have research experience, but my undergrad institution lacks research areas relevant to my interest for grad school.</p>
<p>Should I include this in my SOP that there was nothing relevant available? If so, how do I phrase something like that?</p>
<p>Will they actually check your undergrad institution?</p>
<p>This would be a good question to ask your recommendation writers.</p>
<p>I think you should and explain the situation. If there are few or no research opportunities I would think a school would give some weight to that problem.</p>
<p>It is important that you have been doing research. Make sure you include this information. If you want you can point out that there is no research opportunity specific to your major available.</p>
<p>You only have a limited amount of space in a statement of purpose; I think you should spend that space talking about your good qualities and what you did that was outstanding rather than making excuses (valid or not) for having a less-than-stellar application. Besides, many students have research experience unrelated to their grad school interests; the point is to get any kind of experience. Unless you’re a physics major who did like political science research, I don’t think you need to explain that. Instead, focus on the connections between the research you do now and what you intend to do.</p>