JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<select name="salutation" id="salutation">
    <option value="0">Please choose</option>
    <option value="Mr.">Mr.</option>
    <option value="Ms.">Ms.</option>
    <option value="Mrs.">Mrs.</option>
</select>

JavaScript

(function ($) {
    $.extend($.fn, {
        setSelectedByIndex: function (index) {
            if (this.is('select')) {
                $('option:eq(' + index + ')', this).attr('selected', true);
                this.change();
            }
            return this;
        }
    });
})(jQuery);

$(function () {
    $('select').on('change', function () {
        alert($('option:selected').text());
    });

    $('#salutation').setSelectedByIndex(3);
});