html:
<select id="sel">
<option value = "1">one</option>
<option value = "2">tow</option>
<option value = "3">three</option>
<option value = "4">four</option>
</select>
jquery:
var value = "3";
$("#sel").each(function()
{if($(this).val() == value)
{
$(this).attr("selected", "selected");
}
});