Do I need to have taken physics in high school to major in bioengineering at a top tier university?

Choose wisely whether you apply in engineering or science. It may not be easy to transfer from one college to another within a university. Moving majors within the college of engineering or arts and sciences will be easier.

BE is very physics based in both medical devices and imaging fields. You should decide if you like and are proficient at physics. It is also easier to transfer out of engineering than from science to engineering.

A top tier school freshman curriculum will require prior physics knowledge. Chem 1 engineering sections may contain a lot of quantum chem. When you gain the knowledge in HS, may not be as important as deciding if you enjoy physics.