1$("select.country").change(function(){
2  var selectedCountry = $(this).children("option:selected").val();
3  alert("You have selected the country - " + selectedCountry);
4});

1$( "#myselect option:selected" ).val();

1$('select option[value=8272]').attr('selected', '');

1$("#id option:selected").text();

1<select id="myselect">
2    <option value="1">Mr</option>
3    <option value="2" selected="selected">Mrs</option>
4    <option value="3">Ms</option>
5    <option value="4">Dr</option>
6    <option value="5">Prof</option>
7</select>
8
9<script>
10  alert($( "#myselect" ).val()); //alert '2'
11  //OR
12  alert($( "#myselect option:selected" ).attr('value')); //alert '2'
13  
14  //Use this if you want to get the label and not the value
15  alert($( "#myselect option:selected" ).text()); //alert 'Mrs'
16</script>

1$('.selDiv option:eq(1)').prop('selected', true)