Question

Is it possible to replace a select list (that is required) default value with an error message if it isn’t changed? EX if you click submit without selecting a value, replacing the default “Please Select” that has no option value with a “Please select an option” message? If so, how?

Answer 1

$.validator.addMethod(
            "SelectTechnology",
            function(value, element) {
                if (value == '0'){
                    $('#singleTech option[value="0"]').text("You forgot to select one!");
                    return false;
                } 
                else 
                    return true;
            },
            "Please Select a Technology"
        );

http://jsfiddle.net/X8rS6/