IntroductionThis study explored the perceptions of the surgical applicants with respect to their future well-being as residents, considering the limited information. MethodsIt was conducted a documentary analysis of free essays performed by general practitioners who applied to a private surgical program in Colombia during 2018 and 2019. ResultsA total of 118 essays were analysed (46.61% were written by women). The average age of the participants was 27.2 ± 1.1 years old. Seven main themes were identified: 1) duty hours; 2) respect at the workplace; 3) infrastructure, organization and facilities in the training program; 4) teamwork and peer collaboration; 5) good teachers; 6) university and family support; and 7) detachment at work and spaces for leisure. ConclusionsExpectations about well-being in surgery involve individual and programmatic aspects that require profound transformations in surgical education in the coming years.