jQuery - setting the selected value of a select control via its text description

Question

I have a select control, and in a javascript variable I have a text string.

Using jQuery I want to set the selected element of the select control to be the item with

Answer 1

Easiest way with 1.7+ is:

$("#myDropDown option:text=" + myText +"").attr("selected", "selected"); 

1.9+

$("#myDropDown option:text=" + myText +"").prop("selected", "selected"); 

Tested and works.