       ## graderubric
       @selectedTier = null
       
-      if $scope.rubricGrades
-        @rubricGrade = $scope.rubricGrades[@id]
+      # look for a rubric grade by metric_id if there are rubric grades present
+      if @$scope.rubricGrades
+        @rubricGrade = @$scope.rubricGrades[@id]
 
+      # if there are rubric grades, select the 
       if @rubricGrade
         @rubricGradeTierId = @rubricGrade.tier_id
       else

          )
      else
        @remove(index)            
]  

      # alert(@selectedTier.id)
      # would this always have an id?
    alert: ()->
      alert("snakes!")    
    addTier: (attrs={})->
      newTier = new TierPrototype(@, attrs, @$scope)
      @tiers.push newTier
      if @rubricGradeTierId and @rubricGradeTierId == newTier.id
        @selectedTier = newTier

    addTiers: (tiers)->
      angular.forEach(tiers, (tier,index)=>
