title: How to set default value for ASP.NET MVC DropDownList from model
body: <p>i am new in mvc. so i populate dropdown this way</p>
  
  <pre><code>public ActionResult New()
  {
      var countryQuery = (from c in db.Customers
                          orderby c.Country ascending
                          select c.Country).Distinct();
      List&lt;SelectListItem&gt; countryList = new List&lt;SelectListItem&gt;();
      string defaultCountry = "USA";
      foreach(var item in countryQuery)
      {
          countryList.Add(new SelectListItem() {
                          Text = item, 
                          Value = item, 
                          Selected=(item == defaultCountry ? true : false) });
      }
      ViewBag.Country = countryList;
      ViewBag.Country = "UK";
      return View();       
  }
  
  @Html.DropDownList("Country", ViewBag.Countries as List&lt;SelectListItem&gt;)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>i like to know how can i populate dropdown from model and also set default value. any sample code will be great help. thanks</p>