Fall 2024 PhD Profile Evaluation for Atypical Applicant

[James_]

Hello all! I have been putting a lot of thought into going back to school and getting a PhD, and wanted to get some advice on my strength of profile. My path might be a little atypical, perhaps backwards, but I do wonder how it would be perceived. I finished a bachelor's degree in pure math in 2019, then went on to do a non-thesis master's in Statistics and machine learning, which I completed two years ago. So, for the past two years I've been working at a large biotech company as a Data Scientist. Most of my time at this company has been with global research, where my work has been focused on model experimentation and pre-patent creation for various improvements to specific instruments. 

Does this atypical path have any positive/negative effects on my future application? I know that my Master's would not be transferable, but does it strengthen my profile? I've compiled a list of schools below. Are any in reach? 

Below is my profile:

Undergrad Institution: Top 100 State School (Top 50 in Math)
Major: Mathematics
GPA: 3.84 (Major 3.94)
Type of Student: Domestic White Male

Graduate Institution: Same as undergraduate institution
Focus: Statistics and Machine Learning
GPA: 4.0

Research Experience:
Math REU
Several Machine Learning Projects
Statistical Consultant for Interdisciplinary Statistics Lab helping other graduate students
Over a year of experience working in Global Research for a large biotech company

Awards/Honor/Recognition:
Dean's List six semesters
Math Honor Society
Phi Beta Kappa

Activities/Jobs:
Was a TA for upper division math stats course
Data analyst for astrophysics researcher
Data scientist for 2+ years at biotech company
Statistical consultant for a lab at school

Grades:
Undergrad Courses: Calc I/II/III A's, Linear Algebra A, Discrete Math A, ODE A, Introduction to Complex Analysis A
Upper Division: Analysis I and II A, Abstract Algebra A, Probability Theory A, Differential Geometry of Curves and Surfaces A, Into to Data Science A
Graduate Courses: Topology A-, Algebraic Topology A, Modern Algebra A, Coding and Cryptography A, Design and Analysis of Algorithms A, Statistical Methods and Applications I/II A, Mathematical Statistics A, Machine Learning A, Neural Networks and Deep Learning A, Markov Processes A, Statistical Learning A, Applied Deep Learning A, Statistical Collaboration A, Computational Bayesian statistics A

LOR: It has been two years since graduate school so I'm a little worried about who I should ask. I can ask my boss (principal research engineer), but should a LOR come from a professor? There is a teaching professor that would write me a strong letter. Any thoughts or suggestions?

GRE: I took this in 2019. I would have to take it again.
V:154 Q: 158, W:4.0

Current Schools I'm interested in: 
Columbia, Harvard, Duke, Washington, UCLA, UC Irvine, University of Florida, CSU, UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis

 

[Econometrician]

I don't think your profile is atypical really. Yes, I think getting at least one LOR from faculty would help & make you a competitive candidate anywhere

[BL4CKxP3NGU1N]

I think you'd be competitive at any of those schools since you have solid grades and a good depth of math coursework from a good school. Usually you need 3 LOR's, and I think having at least one from a professor who can attest to your research potential would be wise.

[bayessays]

You have an extremely typical profile. I think one letter from a boss would be fine, but you should also get a letter from a math professor and ideally your REU/research profs.  In addition to that, your biggest concern needs to be improving your GRE Q score and getting it up to a 165.